Mote servicing

ABSTRACT

One aspect can include determining that at least one mote device is operating outside normal operational parameters and should be serviced, and determining at least partially using the at least one mote device that is operationally located within a mote network is not meeting a goal of the at least one mote device with respect to the mote network and should be serviced. Another aspect can include determining that at least one mote device should undergo routine servicing and configuring the at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routine servicing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available prioritydates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefitsunder 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications), andincorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of thefollowing listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to theextent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the presentapplication also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s)from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office(USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computerprograms require that patent applicants reference both a serial numberand indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation inpart. (see CITATION). The present applicant entity has provided below aspecific reference to the application(s) from which priority is beingclaimed as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that thestatute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does notrequire either a serial number or any characterization such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing,applicant entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs havecertain data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity isdesignating the present application as a continuation in part of itsparent applications, but expressly points out that such designations arenot to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/oradmission as to whether or not the present application contains any newmatter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s).

1. United States patent application number not yet assigned, entitled“MAINTAINING OR IDENTIFYING MOTE DEVICES”, naming Edward K. Y. Jung;Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo,Jr. as inventors, filed 6 Oct., 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain aspects of the present application relate, in general, toservicing mote device(s).

In certain aspects, a method can include, but is not limited to,determining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced; and indicating the atleast one mote device is to be serviced at least partially in responseto the determining that the at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be serviced. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, a method can include, but is not limited to,determining that at least one mote device should undergo routineservicing; and configuring the at least one mote device to indicate theat least one mote device should undergo the routine servicing. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, an apparatus can include, but is not limited to, atleast one mote device operable to at least partially determine that itis operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced; and the at least one mote device operable to indicate itshould be serviced at least partially in response to the at least onemote device operable to at least partially determine that it isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be serviced.In addition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspects are described inthe claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the presentapplication.

In certain aspects, a method can include, but is not limited to,servicing at least one mote device to control at least one operationthat the at least one mote device is configured to perform. In additionto the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, an apparatus can include, but is not limited to, atleast one mote device operable to at least partially determine that itshould undergo routine servicing; and at least one mote device operableto indicate the at least one mote device should be serviced at leastpartially in response to the at least one mote device operable to atleast partially determine that it should undergo routine servicing. Inaddition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, an apparatus can include, but is not limited to, adisplacing mechanism configurable to displace at least one mote deviceto indicate the at least one mote device is to undergo servicing. Inaddition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, an apparatus can include, but is not limited to, amote means for determining that it is operating properly; and the motemeans for indicating it is to undergo routine servicing even though ithas determined that it is operating properly. In addition to theforegoing, other apparatus aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In certain aspects, an apparatus can include, but is not limited to, amote means for determining that it is operating outside normaloperational parameters; and the mote means for indicating it is to beserviced based, at least in part, on it determining that it is operatingoutside normal operational parameters. In addition to the foregoing,other apparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and textforming a part of the present application.

In one or more various aspects, related apparatus and systems includebut are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electro-mechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system aspectsare set forth and described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detaileddescription) and/or drawings of the present application.

The foregoing contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizationsand omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the foregoing is illustrative only and not intended tobe in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of thedevices and/or processes and/or other subject matter described hereinshould become apparent in the text set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a mote networkincluding at least one mote device;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 4 shows a view of one embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 5 shows a view of another embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 6 shows a view of yet another embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of one embodiment of a servicing device;

FIG. 8 shows a view of another embodiment of the servicing device;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the servicing device;

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the servicing deviceand mote device.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 12, that includes FIGS. 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, and 12 e, is a flowdiagram of one embodiment of a mote identifying/servicing technique;

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the mote device;

FIG. 14, that includes FIGS. 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d, is a flowdiagram of another embodiment of the mote identifying/servicingtechnique;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the mote servicingtechnique;

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the mote servicingtechnique; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the at least one motedevice, and a displacing mechanism that is associated with the at leastone mote device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure pertains in general to a variety of aspectsrelating to mote device(s), and in certain aspects their servicing.

The disclosure includes a number of outline headings for clarity ofpresentation. Different types of subject matter may be discussedthroughout areas under different outline headings throughout thedisclosure (e.g., device(s)/structure(s) may be described underprocess(es)/operations heading(s) and/or process(es)/operations may bediscussed under structure(s)/process(es) headings; and/or descriptionsof single topics may span two or more topic headings, etc.). The formaloutline headings, and any heading numbering, are intended to beassistive or illustrative in nature and not in any way limiting.

I. INTRODUCTION TO MOTE DEVICE(S) AND SERVICING DEVICE(S)

One embodiment of a mote network 10 that can include a number of motedevice(s) 11 is described with respect to FIG. 1, in which thedimensions of the individual devices are not drawn to scale. In general,a mote device can be considered a small processor-driven device that canbe configured to perform a variety of functions. Certain embodiments ofmote device(s) 11, as described in this disclosure for example, can beconfigured to sense a variety of parameters, actuate a variety of otherdevices such as (but not limited to) turn on or off a light emittingdiode, and/or at least partially control a display includingcontrollable light elements (e.g., pixels). Certain embodiments of themote device(s) 11 can be fabricated to be relatively small (typicallyless than several inches in dimension, often a fraction of an inch).Certain embodiments of mote device(s) 11 can also be relativelyinexpensive to produce, and can be designed to stand up to relativelyharsh and/or external environments. Many embodiments of mote device(s)can include a power source, which can be configured to provide power orenergy to the mote during its normal operations.

As used in this disclosure, the term “mote device” typically indicates asemi-autonomous computing, communication, actuating, and/or sensingdevice as described in the mote literature (e.g., Intel Corporation'smote literature), as well as equivalents recognized by those havingskill in the art (e.g., Intel Corporation's smart dust projects),similar to as illustrated with respect to FIG. 1. Many embodiments ofmote device(s) 11, or simply “motes”, as described in this disclosurecan provide a wide variety of parameter sensing and/or actuatingfunctionalities. Such parameter sensing may be controlled (and/or lightor display devices actuated) using computer-based sensing,electro-mechanical sensing, magnetic sensing, and/or other sensingtechniques. Certain embodiments of mote device(s) can be located atremote, hostile, external, or inaccessible location(s), which can makeaccess to the mote device(s) for such purposes as servicing, repair, orreplacement difficult, expensive, hazardous and/or even virtuallyimpossible. Consider, for example, the inaccessibility of mote device(s)located in concrete to sense the structural integrity of a building, adam, etc. and/or actuate at least one device(s) that can be actuated bythe mote device(s) 11. In these inaccessible embodiments, servicing mayhave to be performed by a servicing device or person that can be remotefrom the mote device(s). In one embodiment, servicing of at least onemote device can be indicated in a mote network by providing a statusindicator to service the at least one mote device, such as changingsurface color, surface reflectivity, generating an acoustic signal,generating a vibration, etc.

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of status indicatorsthat can be used to indicate that the mote device is operating outsideat least one normal operational parameter (e.g., not operating asdesired in some detectable manner). In this disclosure, the term“normal” as included in “normal operating parameter” is considered to benormal for that particular mote device. In certain embodiments, multiplestatus indicators can be associated with at least one mote device(s) toindicate whether each mote device is operating outside of differentnormal operational parameters. For example, those mote device(s) thatare operating outside a first normal operational parameter, such ashaving insufficient power, etc., as described in this disclosure, can becolor coded (or include color coded status indicators such as tags, asdescribed in this disclosure) with a first color, or output a firstsignal, etc. Those mote device(s) that are operating outside a secondnormal operational parameter can be color coded (or have their statusindicators color coded) with a second color, or output a second signal,etc. As such, those mote device(s) that are to be serviced for operatingoutside a first normal operating parameter can be easily differentiated(using the servicing device or a servicing person) from those motedevice(s) that are to be serviced for operating outside a second normaloperating parameter.

A number of servicing devices or servicing persons may be associatedwith the same mote network, be serviced by a single servicing device, orbe serviced by an individual servicing person. Each servicing device canbe configured to perform one or more servicing operations including, butnot limited to: collecting, maintaining, repairing, replacing,discarding, and/or reconfiguring, etc. of the at least one motedevice(s) within that mote network. Mote device(s) can be installedwithin, (or distributed across) a variety of different environmentsand/or applications including, but not limited to: across the field,within a structure such as a building, bridge, highway, or dam,underwater, within a vehicle (e.g., to sense an engine parameter oroperate a vehicle actuator), etc.

In this disclosure, a variety of techniques are provided to allow motedevice(s) to achieve some type of “goal” as a functioning device withinthe mote network. Examples of such a goal can include, for example,servicing power within the mote device(s), performance of the motedevice(s), reliability in individual mote device(s) and/or theirbatteries across a mote network, ensuring that a particular percentageof the mote device(s) do not fail, etc. Providing certain goals or taskscan provide a considerable challenge and/or expense to the mote networkdesigner, operator, or owner.

An example of a specific goal may be to have some mote device(s) 11operate during some prescribed time period with less than someprescribed percentage of the mote device(s) within the particular motenetwork failing. Additionally, balancing data stored in the various motedevice(s) across a mote network in a desired fashion (e.g., such thatall data can be readily and reliably accessed) can represent anothergoal for the mote device(s) within the mote network. Also, ensuring thatat least one mote device (or certain percentage of mote devices) isoperating properly or providing proper output can represent another motedevice goal with respect to the mote network. Since it is envisionedthat certain mote networks can be configured with the sizable array ofmote device(s) 11, servicing of mote device(s) can represent adesign-challenge for certain mote networks. This disclosure cantherefore provide a number of mechanisms meant to achieve goals such aseffectively and efficiently servicing certain desired power levelsand/or energy levels, monitoring or controlling data storage, and/ormonitoring operational characteristics, etc. within various ones of themote device(s) 11 with respect to the mote network. In differentembodiments, the ability of the mote device to meet any mote device goalor mote network goal could be determined (e.g., computed) by theservicing device 50, individually by the mote device(s) 11, and/or by adistinct (e.g., computer/controller) device monitoring the mote network(each of these devices described with respect to FIG. 1). These examplesof goals of mote device(s) as described with respect to mote networksare intended to be illustrative in nature, while not limiting in scope.

Another embodiment of goal for the mote device with respect to the motenetwork may be to have a prescribed percentage of mote device(s) 11operable reliably within a mote network for some prescribed duration(e.g., a month). As such, it may be a goal for certain embodiments ofthe mote device to be able to ascertain how many mote device(s) areoperating reliably within the mote network. Another goal may be toensure that certain data or other information for the mote network isstored in at least one mote device and/or a computer/controllerassociated with the mote network (and in certain embodiments, haveback-up storage capabilities within the mote network).

While many mote device applications pertain to sensing one or moreparameters, it is also envisioned that mote device(s) 11 can activate avariety of actuators. For example, in one embodiment, at least one ofthe mote device(s) 11 can be configured to control an electric currentthat could be applied to an actuator. The actuator can, in turn, actuatea device such as a light, an actuatable portion of a display, anelectronically actuatable device, an electromechanically actuatabledevice, a computer-based actuatable device, a mechanically actuatabledevice, etc. As such, another mote device goal with respect to motenetworks can include ensuring that certain mote device(s) 11 that canperform actuating operations can perform these operations effectivelyand/or efficiently.

Power and/or energy can represent a considerable design considerationthat would be useful to service and/or control relative to certainembodiments of mote device(s). This disclosure provides a variety oftechniques and mechanisms by which power and/or energy levels of atleast certain ones of the mote device(s) 11 can be monitored,determined, and/or enhanced. For example, certain mote device(s) requirea prescribed power/energy level to perform a particular sensingoperation(s), and/or other operation(s). As such, it is important toconsider whether one or more mote device(s) across a particular motenetwork have sufficient power and/or energy levels to perform theparticular operation(s). If an energy level or other condition of themote device(s) varies from a prescribed level, it may be desired incertain embodiments to service the mote device and/or identify thosemote device(s) 11 to be serviced.

Certain embodiments of the servicing the mote device(s) can include theservicing device and/or servicing person performing one or more of avariety of servicing actions. The servicing actions can include, but arenot limited to: repairing the mote device(s), collecting the motedevice(s), transporting the mote device(s) to a remote location,reconfiguring the mote device(s) within a mote network, charging a powersupply or battery of the rechargeable mote device(s), destroying themote device(s), attending to mote device(s) to be serviced, transferringthe mote device(s) to a different mote network, and/or repositioning themote device(s) within the mote network so that they still perform theirdesired functions and/or operations. As such, within this disclosure,the term “servicing” a mote device can relate to any of these or othersimilar operations that pertain to a mote device as would be understoodby one skilled in the art.

This disclosure can also describe a number of servicing devices 50, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1. Within this disclosure, the term“servicing device” represents those devices that can actually service,or assist in servicing, those mote device(s) that are to be serviced.Certain embodiments of servicing devices can, for example, travel towhere those mote device(s) that are to be serviced are located; andactually collect the mote device(s) 11 to be returned to some locationafter which they can be repaired, returned to service in the same or adifferent mote network, etc. Other embodiments of servicing devices, forexample, can travel to where the mote device(s) that are to be repairedare recharged or located, and repair or recharge the mote device(s) atthat location. Other embodiments of servicing devices identify to aperson where the mote device(s) to be serviced, repaired, collected,addressed, reconfigured, recharged, etc. are located, and allow theperson to pick up the mote device to perform a suitable operation. Also,for instance, certain embodiments of servicing devices and/or servicingpersons can flip over mote device(s) (or in certain embodiments the motedevice(s) can flip itself over to be easily detectable by the servicingdevice or servicing person). Such flipping of those mote device(s) (thatappear different on different surfaces) can yield a surface portion ofthe mote that has a different color, appearance, reflectivity, opticalcharacteristic, etc. Providing the different optical characteristic ofthe mote device(s) by flipping them can allow those mote device(s) 11 tobe more easily identified by a person, or another machine or device tobe serviced. As such, servicing devices can be configured in a varietyof embodiments to perform a variety of operations relating to servicingmote device(s), identifying, and/or locating mote device(s) to beserviced.

This disclosure thereby provides a variety of techniques and mechanismsby which mote device(s) 11 can be serviced (e.g., by a servicing device,a person, or a distinct entity). Such servicing techniques and/ormechanisms can include, but are not limited to: charging the mote deviceto increase the power of the mote device (or the mote device's battery);monitoring the energy of the mote device for when it drops below aprescribed level; correcting undesired data conditions of the motedevice(s); and/or collecting data from particular mote device(s) 11;etc. For example, when a power level of a particular mote device dropsbelow a prescribed limit, it may be desired to service that particularmote device, and replace or recharge its power source (e.g., arechargeable battery). These techniques and mechanisms as described inthis disclosure are illustrative in nature, and are not intended to belimiting in scope. The identifying to service techniques can be appliedto any reason that mote device(s) would have to be serviced.

There may be additional reasons to service a mote device other than themote device operating outside normal operational parameters, or actingimproperly. For example, it may be desired to perform routine servicingon the mote device 11. During certain embodiments of routine servicingit may be desired to service certain embodiments of mote device(s) 11,such as collecting data directly from a mote device (or recharging themote device) even if the mote device has been operating properly. Suchdata collection, and similar processes, can be considered an example ofroutine servicing that may be performed on the mote device. Statusindicators (as described in this disclosure, such as are attached tomote device(s) or otherwise associated with a mote device(s)) caninclude a variety of status indicators that can include: changing inappearance, producing a light, altering a reflective characteristic of aportion thereof, producing a vibration or sound, changing a shape ororientation that can be viewed, etc. Certain embodiments of the statusindicator can indicate, in some manner, that the mote device should beserviced (routinely or otherwise) either by a servicing device and/or aperson performing servicing. For example, one embodiment of motedevice(s) can change color to identify those mote device(s) to beserviced.

As such, certain types of status indicators can be applied to motedevice(s) 11 in a manner that allows servicing devices to more readilydetermine the position of the mote device(s) to be serviced. Certainembodiments of goals for a mote device within the mote network mayrelate to downloading data to a servicing device and/or other device ona periodic or other basis. For example, a particular mote device maycontain data either relating to parameters that the mote device hassensed, or alternatively that another mote device has sensed. It may bedesired to achieve some particular mote device(s) “goal” by transferringthe sensed data to another mote device; or another device that canprocess the data, such as a data processing device or a computing device(e.g., a personal computer, a laptop, a microprocessor, a microcomputer,etc.). The device(s) could thereupon distribute data within a motenetwork as desired.

This disclosure also provides a number of techniques and statusindicator mechanisms by which mote device(s) 11 can indicate toservicing devices, other devices, or a person that the mote deviceshould be serviced. For example, in certain embodiments, a surfaceportion of the mote device can change color in a manner that can bedetected by a servicing device or a person who is acting to service themote network. In other embodiments, the mote device can transmit lighthaving a particular characteristic in a manner that can be detected bythe servicing device or a servicing person. In still another embodiment,the mote device can include a status indicator that acts by transmittinga variety of signals such as: a radio signal, an electromagneticradiation signal, a visible light signal, an infrared or ultra-violetsignal, etc. The signal can thereupon be detected by the servicingdevice or the servicing person. In certain embodiments, the mote devicecan also change reflectivity to reflect a change in status. In certainembodiments, the mote device can be displaced, such as being flippedover, to expose a surface having a different color, appearance,reflectivity, light-admitting characteristic, etc. if the mote device(s)11 are to be serviced, and thereby flipping these mote device(s) can actas a status indicator. In yet another embodiment, the mote device(s) tobe serviced can output an acoustic signal and/or vibrate in a mannerthat can be identified to be serviced by the servicing device and/orservicing individual. As such, status indicators can indicate one ormore states for a mote device.

Certain embodiments of the status indicator can also include changing ashape, a position, or a conformability of the mote device. For example,the shape of certain embodiments can be changed from substantially flatto oval or round (for example, by filling chambers in the mote devicewith a fluid or liquid). An oval or round mote device may be easier tolocate on a surface such as a roadbed or field than a similarly coloredor configured flat device. Other embodiments of status indicators mayoperate by changing the position of a mote device. Certain embodimentsof mote device(s) 11 may be displaced such as performing a “jackknife”between a closed (e.g., hidden) position and an open (e.g.,easily-detectable) position, or vice versa. In another embodiment, anextensible flag or other detection segment may extend to make the motedevice more easily detectable.

Yet other embodiments of mote device(s) may be configured to adjusttheir conformability to be more easily detected or identified. Forexample, certain mote device(s) can be altered between a relativelynon-conformable position that is relatively difficult to grab, and arelatively conformable extended position that is more easily grabbed bya person or the servicing device. Certain embodiments of the servicingdevice can be configured to more easily “grab” easily conformable motedevice(s) 11 that should be serviced, and the servicing device can havemore difficulty in grabbing the non-conformable mote device(s) thatshould not be serviced.

Certain embodiments of status indicators can be configured to operate bychanging a shape, changing a position, and/or changing a conformation ofthe mote device. Within this disclosure, changing a conformation of theat least one mote device can make the mote device easily detected oridentified by the servicing device, and/or allow the mote device to bemore easily “grabbed”, attached to, adhered to, etc. by the servicingdevice. Certain embodiments of the status indicator(s) can thereby beconfigured as, but are not limited to: a) something that can drawattention to the mote device; b) something that identifies the motedevice; and/or c) something that communicates a relevant state from amote device. Certain embodiments of status indicators can beparticularly effective to indicate whether the mote device(s) should beserviced.

As such, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide motedevice(s) 11 that include the status indicator. Certain embodiments ofthe status indicator can change some characteristic that can beidentified by a servicing device, or other device, such that those motedevice(s) that should be serviced can be serviced more easily andeffectively than without the mote device changing its characteristics.The characteristics of the status indicator for the mote device that maychange can include, but are not limited to, appearance, color,light-admitting characteristics, vibration characteristics, acousticcharacteristics, etc. The mote device(s) that can be serviced therebycan interact with certain embodiments of servicing devices (orindividuals) to identify themselves to the servicing devices as motedevice(s) that should be serviced.

Each mote device can be configured to provide one or more of a varietyof functions. This disclosure thereby provides various embodiments bywhich power in an individual mote device(s) 11 can be enhanced as thepower drops below a prescribed level. For example, within a motenetwork, a variety of signals, communications, etc. can be providedbetween one or more mote device(s) and/or other devices to transfersensed data, or mote device power information, between the motedevice(s) that could be positioned at various locations. Such signals,communications, etc. contain considerable energy. This disclosureprovides a number of techniques by which the energy contained within thesignals, communications, etc. can be converted into a form that can beutilized to power the mote device, and thereby possibly extend theuseful lifetimes and/or operational reliability of the mote device(s)within their respective mote networks.

By ensuring that those mote device(s) 11 within the mote networks thatare operating outside normal operational parameters (e.g., are notoperating properly or are not configured properly) are replaced,repaired, removed, and/or otherwise serviced; the user of certainembodiments of mote networks can be assured of a more reliable operationof the mote network in general.

II. EXAMPLES OF MOTE DEVICE(S) AND/OR TECHNIQUE(S)

The embodiments of mote device(s) 11 as described in this disclosure areintended to be illustrative and enabling in nature, but not limiting inscope. It is envisioned that the concepts, techniques, etc. as describedherein with respect to the mote device(s) can also be applied to otherembodiments of mote device(s) that would be ascertainable to thoseskilled in the art. As described in this disclosure, the mote device(s)11 as described with respect to FIG. 1 may be considered, by theiroperating within normal operational parameters, as achieving theirindividual goal(s). When certain one(s) of the mote device(s) areoperating outside normal operational parameters (e.g., by running out ofpower or energy, or storing too much or too little data), those motedevice(s) may not be able to achieve their individual goal(s) withrespect to the mote network. In certain embodiments, those motedevice(s) 11 should thereby either be identified to be serviced,identified (within the mote network) as operating outside normaloperational parameters (e.g., operating improperly), and/or beingserviced utilizing, e.g., a servicing device and/or a servicing person.It is envisioned that certain mote device(s) 11 within the mote network10 can transmit data to the mote device(s), as well as perhaps othernon-mote device(s). Many embodiments of the mote device(s) 11 canutilize wireless communications (e.g., in certain embodiments of radiofrequencies). A variety of wireless communication techniques can beutilized in a variety of networking devices, including but not limitedto mote device(s). In general, different embodiments of mote device(s)11 can be configured to sense a variety of parameters that can include,but are not limited to: temperature, pressure, certainelectrical/magnetic characteristics, position, velocity, inertia,presence or absence of individual persons or vehicles, moisture, etc.Such data or information can relate to sensed parameters which can betransmitted (utilizing wireless communication techniques), between oneor more mote device(s) 11 and/or one or more computers/controllers 18 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1.

Each mote device may be configured to perform a variety of controllerand/or communication operations utilizing computer and/or networkingtechniques as described herein. One embodiment of the mote device(s) 11,as configured with respect to FIG. 1, can include a communicationportion 13, a sensor/actuator portion 15, a power portion 17, and acontroller portion 19. In certain embodiments, the communication portion13 can be configured to provide communication of signals and/or transferof sensed data with other mote device(s) 11, the servicing device 50,and/or the computer/controller 18. In one embodiment, the communicationportion 13 can include an antenna 12. Certain embodiments of the antenna12 may be configured to transmit/receive electromagnetic radiation atselected electromagnetic radiation frequencies (that include, but arenot limited to: radio frequencies, optical frequencies, infraredfrequencies, etc.) to provide a wireless link between mote device(s),computer/controllers 18, etc. Such antennas can thereby provide atransfer of such signals and/or information to other mote device(s) 11,the servicing device 50, and/or the computer/controller 18. In certainembodiments, a user interface that can control one or more operation(s)of the computer/controller 18 can be physically separated from thecomputer/controller. The computer/controller 18 can also be referred toas a base station. In these embodiments, the user interface can beoperationally connected to the computer/controller 18 using wireless,wired-based, and/or other networking data-transfer techniques.

Certain embodiments of the sensor/actuator portion 15 can be configuredto sense one or more parameters and/or actuate some device to providesome operability of the mote device 11. A variety of such parametersthat can be sensed/actuated are described with respect to the variousdevices 140, 142, 144, 156, 158, and/or 160, as described with respectto FIGS. 2 and 3. Those parameters to be sensed or actuated, as well asthe devices to sense the parameters or actuate the device(s), areintended to be illustrative in nature, and not limiting in scope. It isenvisioned that the rate at which each of these individual parametersare sensed or actuated may depend upon the particular configuration ofthe mote device 11 that can include, but is not limited to: sensedparameters for the mote device, actuation characteristics of the motedevice, user input to the mote device, etc. In certain embodiments, themote sensing/actuating rate can be controlled and/or determined by thecomputer/controller 18.

Certain embodiments of the controller portion(s) 19 that are locatedwithin each one of certain embodiments of the mote device 11 caninclude, but are not limited to: a processor 605, a memory 607, acircuit 609, and an input/output (I/O) 611. The controller portion 19,as well as its components, can rely on computing architecture andtechnologies, such as utilized by a microprocessor or microchip. FIG. 1also illustrates two other devices (the computer/controller 18 and theservicing device 50) that include similarly referenced components: 605,607, 609, and 611. The devices 11, 18, and 50 are each provided withsimilar component reference characters 605, 607, 609, and 611 thatpertain to computer/controller components that are included in each ofthe devices 11, 18, or 50, and can rely on similar computer architectureto provide their computer and/or controller technology. For example,each device 11, 18, and 50 can rely on any combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware as is generally understood by those ofordinary skill in the computer and/or controller technologies. As such,certain mote sensing and/or operation processes can be performed by anyone of, or any combination of, the devices 11, 18, and/or 50.

Many embodiments of the mote device 11 can be configured to be quitesmall (e.g., in many embodiments less than several inches, or even lessthan an inch), and thereby mote device(s) can be distributed inrelatively large numbers within an area to be sensed. As such, the motedevice(s) can be configured to perform their sensing or operationfunctionality relatively unobtrusively. Additionally, many embodimentsof mote device(s) 11 can be configured to be powered by a relativelylow-power device, such as those that may utilize a double-A battery or apower cell. Providing power to many types of mote device(s) 11 in amanner that can ensure a relatively long and reliable operation ofcertain embodiments of a mote device can be challenging, especiallyconsidering many applications of mote device(s). As such, it may bedifficult to service power/energy to such mote device(s), oralternatively service such mote device(s) such as by ensuring that theyare operating properly, can be properly configured, and can therefore becapable of sensing a variety of parameters or performing a variety ofoperations. Certain embodiments of the mote device(s) can be located atvarious difficult to reach locations or dangerous to reach locationssuch as, but not limited to: an operating automobile or aircraft; withina building, dam, roadway, or a nuclear power plant; at various locationsin the human body such as may be desired to access during surgery;underseas at a variety of locations; deep in a forest; or high on amountain, etc. As such, many embodiments of mote device(s) can, ingeneral, sense a variety of parameters at a variety of locations, andsome of the locations may be remote and/or hostile for individuals toaccess, repair, and/or provide power and/or energy.

Due to the relatively low cost of a variety of certain embodiments ofthe mote device(s) as compared to other larger and operationally complexsensor and/or actuator devices, it is envisioned that the mote device(s)can be distributed in relatively large numbers to provide a gradient ofsensed parameters or provide a variety of operations, or alternativelyacross a larger area. It is envisioned that as the use of mote device(s)and their associated networks becomes more commonplace, the number ofmote device(s) within certain mote networks might become so large thatservicing the mote device(s) could provide a challenge. As such, in manyembodiments, it may be preferred to simplify performing or “automate”many operations associated with the mote device(s) within the motenetworks such as, but not limited to: mote device set-up, mote deviceoperation, mote device servicing, and/or identification of motedevice(s) to be serviced, etc. Many of the applications for motedevice(s) can demand a relatively high degree of reliability from thepower portion and/or it can be exceedingly difficult to service the motedevice and/or its power portion 17.

Certain embodiments of the power portion 17, (depending upon theirintended use and design), can be configured to provide power to the motedevice 11, as well as the communication portion and sensor portionscontained therein. In different embodiments, the power portion 17 can beconfigured as a battery (chargeable and/or disposable), a power supply,and/or a power reception device that can receive power from outside ofthe mote device. In certain embodiments, the power reception device canconvert the power received. For example, a solar panel can be attachedto the mote device(s) 11, and the energy received from the solar panelcan be converted and used to power the mote device. In an alternateembodiment, energy contained in a received signal can be converted intoa frequency and/or a form such that the energy of the signal can beutilized by the mote device(s) 11 to power the mote device(s). These andother operational configurations of the communication portion 13, thesensor/actuator portion 15, and the power portion 17, are provided asillustrated within this disclosure, and are not intended to be limitingin scope. Certain embodiments of mote device(s) can even rely on apassive energy source (e.g., solar panel). As such, it is to beunderstood that many reasons for servicing mote device(s) may not relateto servicing their power source.

The computer/controller 18 can be configured as a variety of computersand/or controllers to control at least some sensing operations of themote device(s) 11 (and/or the other devices 18 or 50, as described withrespect to FIG. 1), and/or receive, store, or otherwise process at leastsome sensed output parameters from the mote device(s) 11 and/or theother devices 18 or 50. In different embodiments, thecomputer/controller 18 can be configured as a standalone computer, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a microprocessor, a microcomputer,a mainframe computer, and/or any other type of computer that can processdata or other information relating to sensed parameters such as providedby the mote device(s) 11 and/or the other devices 18 or 50. Theconfiguration of the computer/controller 18, as described with respectto FIG. 1, is intended to be illustrative in nature and not limiting inscope; more detail relating to the devices 11, 18, and/or 50 areprovided in this disclosure.

The positioning of the mote device(s) 11 can be determined by the user,owner, other person, machine, computer, etc. depending upon theparticular parameters that are desired to be sensed. In certainembodiments, after the mote device(s) 11 have been positioned, thelocation of certain techniques can be determined, and the positionutilized to provide communications between the particular motedevice(s). In certain embodiments, for example, mote device(s) 11 can bedistributed within a building, house, or other structure to determineparticular sensed parameters with respect to that structure. In certainembodiments, it may be desired to locate other devices 18 or 50 that areassociated with the mote device(s) 11 and in operational proximity tothe mote device(s) 11 (as described with respect to FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, for example, mote device(s) 11 can be distributedin a variety of configurations including, but not limited to: alongroadways or walkways to, in certain cases, determine sensed parametersrelating to vehicles or persons travelling thereupon, etc. For example,mote device(s) 11 could be laid upon the ground, a floor, a walkway,etc.; integrated into structures that are laid upon the ground, a floor,a road, a walkway, etc.; or physically embedded within the ground, afloor, a road, or a walkway, etc. In other embodiments, for example,mote device(s) 11 can be distributed across a field, a crop area, in theground, in a garden, around a family's yard, around a secured businessarea, within a forest, etc. to sense parameters or perform somefunctionality with respect to each particular area. Mote device(s) can,in certain embodiments, therefore be utilized to sense a variety ofparameters and/or perform a variety of operations as described withinthis disclosure.

Certain embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of one or moreof the servicing devices 50, as described with respect to FIG. 1. Theservicing device 50 can be used to determine those mote device(s) 11that should be serviced, as well as in certain embodiments physicallyservice one or more mote device(s) 11. In other embodiments, theservicing device can determine those mote device(s) to service, andindicate a position of the mote device for another device and/or a userto service.

Certain mote device(s) may be desired to be serviced for a variety ofpurposes, and those described herein are intended to be illustrative innature, but not limiting in scope. The variety of reasons for servicingthe mote device(s) can include, but are not limited to: increasing motedevice(s) power or battery power, repairing damage to the motedevice(s), retrieving certain sensed data or sensed information from themote device(s), updating sensing operations of the mote device(s),updating other operations of the mote device(s), repositioning of themote device(s), reconfiguring the mote device(s), and/or repositioningthe mote device(s) within an existing mote network, etc.

A variety of techniques are described in this disclosure, in which oneor more of the servicing devices 50 can service mote device(s) 11, andcertain such techniques are described with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8. Oneembodiment of a servicing device, as described with respect to FIG. 8,can be largely automated, and can determine a location of one or moremote device(s) that can be used to effectively “pick up” each desiredone of the mote device(s). Another embodiment of the servicing device,as described with respect to FIG. 7, can indicate a location (e.g.,providing a course to the mote device, as well as a distance) of themote device(s) to a user, and a human or mechanic “user” can thereuponpick up the mote device (either the user picks up the mote device(s) 11by themselves, or the servicing device can be utilized by the user topick up the mote device). In certain embodiments, the servicing devicecan collect the mote device(s) 11 contained within a prescribed area (incertain embodiments similar in operation to a golf ball collector asused on golf driving-ranges, in other embodiments capable of a patternedor irregular motion to locate the mote device(s)). Upon collecting themote device(s), the collector can either return all the mote devices forevaluation as to whether they should be serviced; or alternately performan in-situ evaluation, and return to a remote location those motedevice(s) that need servicing while returning those mote device(s) thatdo not need servicing to the approximate area collected.

Within this disclosure any device that either mechanically, manually, orautomatically services (e.g., obtains, collects and/or attends to,discards, replaces, etc.) one or more mote device(s) in some way; oralternatively assists a user (human or mechanical) to physically serviceone or more mote device(s) in any way can be considered one of theservicing devices 50 as described within this disclosure.

In certain embodiments, the mote device(s) 11 can perform some action,process, etc. to assist the servicing devices 50 in servicing the motedevice(s). For example, in certain embodiments, the mote device(s) canchange color, texture, emit a sound, provide positional information ofthe mote device that can be understood by the servicing device, etc. ina manner that can be recognized by the user, the computer/controller 18,and/or the servicing/identifying devices 50 that could ease servicingthe mote device. In other embodiments, the mote device can vibrateand/or emit an acoustic signal that can be detected by the servicingdevice to allow the servicing device to identify the mote device(s) tobe serviced and/or attended to.

In other embodiments, the mote device 11 can transmit a servicing signal(e.g., over its antenna 12) that is of some frequency, and can betransmitted over some media such as air, that can be received by theservicing device 50 and/or the computer/controller 18. Such signalscontain information that indicate to the servicing device 50 (or a userthereof) that the mote device 11 is ready to be serviced, collected,and/or in some other way attended to.

In certain embodiments, the servicing device 50 can service, collect,and/or attend to one or more of those mote device(s) 11 that areoperating outside normal operational parameters (e.g., not operating asdesired). For example, those servicing devices that are configured toservice and/or attend to those mote device(s) that may have less thansome desired parameter limit (such as below a power and/or energyparameter limit) can be configured to perform a suitable servicingoperation with respect to the mote device(s). Certain mote device(s) maybe incapable of transmitting and/or receiving data as a result ofreduced device power or battery power, and it may be desirable toservice these mote device(s). It may be desirable to utilize one or moremechanism(s) to the servicing device(s), as described in thisdisclosure, to allow the servicing device(s) to service one or more motedevice(s). These embodiments of servicing devices provide for servicingthose motes that are operating outside normal operational parameters(e.g., not operating as desired).

Certain embodiments of servicing devices based on routine maintenance orroutine servicing can be configured to service those mote device(s) 11that have been operating as desired for some prescribed duration, butmay require servicing, data transfer, etc. as a result of the operation.This routing servicing can rely on the premise that for servicing ofparticular mote device(s) within a mote network, each mote device couldor should be checked after some duration, regardless of how well themote device is operating. Such routine servicing can ensure that themote device(s) continues to perform adequately across the mote network,and thereby continues to meet its operational goals with respect to themote network.

For example, it might be reasonably expected for certain mote device(s)located at a particular location, and configured to sense one or moreparticular parameters, to have obtained sufficient data after aparticular period of time, such that sufficient data may be located atthe mote device to justify servicing that mote device. For example,assume that the amount of data that has or could have been serviced by aparticular mote device has reached some prescribed limit; it might bedesired to download the data such that it could be saved in anotherlocation (and in certain embodiments the data can be discarded) asdesired for the particular application and/or situation. Also, it may bedesired to analyze data contained in the mote device(s) after sufficientdata has been obtained. As such, this disclosure provides a number ofmechanisms that allow servicing devices to service mote device(s) 11,such that their data can be serviced.

After (or as an element of) certain embodiments of the mote device(s)have been serviced, the mote device(s) 11 can undergo a variety ofadditional operations that can include, but are not limited to: beingmaintained, being returned, being collected, being discarded, beingrepositioned at the same or different location to continue to operate asdesired; being reprogrammed for a different sensing purpose oroperation; being not utilized; being attended to; etc. Following thesere-alignments and/or reconfigurations of the mote device(s) 11 withinthe mote network as provided during the servicing, hopefully the motedevice(s) that are returned to service can be expected to interact withthe remaining mote device(s) within the mote network to perform theintended operations of at least certain collective mote device(s) withinthe mote networks, and thereby achieve the goals of the collective motedevice(s) within the mote network. As such, as described above, the term“servicing” a mote device should be applied to a number of operations(that can be performed by a servicing device or person) such ascollecting, repositioning, reconfiguring, attending to, etc. followingthe locating of the mote device.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate two illustrative embodiments of the mote device11. FIG. 2 shows an example of the mote device 11 of the mote-network 10that may serve as a context for introducing one or more processes and/ordevices described herein. These descriptions of the internal componentsof the mote device 11 are illustrative and enabling, and the conceptsand techniques described in this disclosure could be applied to any motedevice (or mote) that is not inconsistent with the scope of thedescription. Mote device(s) can, in general, be configured to beassociated with, or include, such additional devices or portions assensors, actuators, computational entities, and/or communicationsentities. The mote device 11, as described with respect to FIG. 1, canrepresent a specific example of a more general mote. The embodiment ofthe mote device 11 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 is illustrated as including theantenna 12, physical layer 104, antenna entity 119, network layer 108(shown for sake of example as a mote-appropriate ad hoc routingapplication), light device entity 110, electrical/magnetic device entity112, pressure device entity 114, temperature device entity 116, volumedevice entity 118, and inertial device entity 120. The particularentities 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120, as well as the othercomponents in these figures, are intended to be illustrative in natureand not limiting in scope. Those entities that are selected candetermine those parameters that the mote device can sense, as well asthose operations that the mote device(s) can perform. Additionally, themote device(s) 11 can be configured to provide a variety of operations(e.g., actuating and/or sensing) and/or functions.

Many embodiments of the physical layer 104, as provided within the motedevice 11, can provide for data transfer to/from a number of devices(140, 142, 144, 156, 158, and/or 160, etc. as described with respect toFIGS. 2 and/or 3) that allow for sensing a variety of parameters orproviding a variety of actuation. Each one of the respective lightdevice entity 110, electrical/magnetic device entity 112, pressuredevice entity 114, temperature device entity 116, volume device entity118, antenna entity 119, and inertial device entity 120, as depicted,can couple through physical layers 104 using the respective light device140, electrical/magnetic device 142, pressure device 144, temperaturedevice 156, volume device 158, antenna 12, and inertial device 160.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein describedentities and/or devices are illustrative, and that other entities and/ordevices consistent with the teachings herein may be substituted and/oradded.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that herein the term “device,”as used for data transmitting applications in the context of the “motedevice”, or “mote”, is intended to represent but is not limited totransmitting devices and/or receiving devices dependent on context. Insome exemplary lighting contexts, the light device 140 can beimplemented using one or more light transmitters (e.g., coherent lighttransmission devices or non-coherent light transmission devices) and/orone or more light receivers (e.g., coherent light reception devices ornon-coherent light reception devices) and/or one or more supportingdevices (e.g., optical filters, hardware, firmware, and/or software). Assuch, the light device 140 can perform a variety of light operations,upon actuation. In some exemplary implementations, theelectrical/magnetic device 142 can be implemented using one or moreelectrical/magnetic transmitters (e.g., electrical/magnetic transmissiondevices) and/or one or more electrical/magnetic receivers (e.g.,electrical/magnetic reception devices) and/or one or more supportingdevices (e.g., electrical/magnetic filters, supporting hardware,firmware, and/or software). In some exemplary implementations, thepressure device 144 can be implemented using one or more pressuretransmitters (e.g., pressure transmission devices) and/or one or morepressure receivers (e.g., pressure reception devices) and/or one or moresupporting devices (e.g., supporting hardware, firmware, and/orsoftware). In some exemplary implementations, the temperature device 156can be implemented using one or more temperature transmitters (e.g.,temperature transmission devices) and/or one or more temperaturereceivers (e.g., temperature reception devices) and/or one or moresupporting devices (e.g., supporting hardware, firmware, and/orsoftware). In some exemplary implementations, the volume device 158 canbe implemented using one or more volume transmitters (e.g., gas/liquidtransmission devices) and/or one or more volume receivers (e.g.,gas/liquid reception devices) and/or one or more supporting devices(e.g., supporting hardware, firmware, and/or software).

Certain embodiments of mote device(s) 11 can also be configured todisplay images, similar to those displays, screens, etc. that can beused as computer monitors, televisions, theaters, signs, billboards,personal display assistants (PDAs), etc. In certain embodiments of motedevice(s), each mote device can actuate one or more colors (in certaininstances, all the colors) for one or more picture elements (pixels) forthe display. In certain embodiments of mote device(s), the color levelscan be adjusted by the mote device depending upon the resolution, orquality, of the display. As such, certain embodiments of the motedevice(s) can act as an actuator for a display.

In some exemplary implementations, the inertial device 160 can beimplemented using one or more inertial transmitters (e.g., inertialforce transmission devices) and/or one or more inertial receivers (e.g.,inertial force reception devices) and/or one or more supporting devices(e.g., supporting hardware, firmware, and/or software). Those skilled inthe art will recognize that although a quasi-stack architecture can beutilized herein for clarity of presentation, other architectures may besubstituted in light of the teachings herein. In addition, although notexpressly shown, those having skill in the art will appreciate thatentities and/or functions associated with concepts underlying OpenSystem Interconnection (OSI) layer 2 (data link layers) and OSI layers4-6 (transport-presentation layers) are present and active toallow/provide communications consistent with the teachings herein. Thosehaving skill in the art will appreciate that these layers are notexpressly shown/described herein for sake of clarity, and are notintended to be limiting in scope.

Many embodiments of mote device(s) 11 are configured to sense a numberof sensed parameters. For example, the mote device 11, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, can be configured to sense light, electrical/magneticlevel, pressure, temperature, volume, and/or inertia. These particularparameters as described with respect to FIGS. 2 and/or 3, or throughoutthis disclosure, are intended to be illustrative in nature and notlimiting in scope. Sensors for mote device(s) can be configured to sensea wide variety of parameters or actuate a wide range of device(s).Certain embodiments of mote device(s) 11 can be configured during deviceconfigurations (e.g., by the mote device designer and/or user) to senseparticular prescribed parameters, and that mote device will sense onlythose prescribed parameters during its intended lifetime. By comparison,certain embodiments of mote device(s) 11 can be reconfigured duringnormal operation to sense different prescribed parameters. Duringconfiguration and/or reconfiguration, certain embodiments of motedevice(s) 11 can be connected to or modified to a particular sensingdevice, such as providing a new hardware, software, firmware, etc.During reconfiguration, other embodiments of mote device(s) 11 can bereconfigured such that certain sensing devices that had previously beenintegrated in, or associated with, the mote device(s) can be actuated,such as by reconfiguring the hardware, software, firmware, etc.

FIG. 3, depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of the mote device 200(that represents one example of the mote device 11, as described hereinwith respect to FIG. 1). The mote device 200 can form a part of amote-appropriate network. The mote device 200 as described with respectto FIG. 3 is illustrated as similar to mote device 11 (e.g., describedwith respect to FIG. 2), but with the addition of log creation agent202, mote-addressed sensing/control log 204, and mote-addressedrouting/spatial log 252.

One embodiment of a mote-addressed sensing/control log 204, as describedwith respect to FIG. 3, can be configured to sense particularillustrative but non-limiting parameters of: entries of light deviceinformation, electrical/magnetic device information, pressure deviceinformation, temperature device information, volume device information,inertial device information, and antenna information. Examples of lightdevice information can include measures or productions or light based onbrightness, saturation, intensity, color, hue, power (e.g., watts), flux(e.g., lumens), irradiance (e.g., Watts/cm²), illuminance (lumens/m²,lumens/ft²), pixel information (e.g., numbers of pixels (e.g., a verysmall mote image capture device), relative pixel orientation)), etc.Examples of electrical/magnetic device information can include measuresof field strength, flux, current, voltage, etc. Examples of pressuredevice information include measures of gas pressure, fluid pressure,radiation pressure, mechanical pressure, etc. Examples of temperaturedevice information include measures of temperature such as Kelvin,Centigrade, and Fahrenheit, etc. Examples of inertial device informationinclude measures of force, measures of acceleration, deceleration, etc.Examples of antenna information include measures of signal power,antenna element position, relative phase orientations of antennaelements, delay line configurations of antenna elements, beamdirections, field of regard directions, antenna types (e.g., horn,biconical, array, Yagi, log-periodic, etc.), etc.

In the implementation, as described with respect to FIG. 3, a logcreation agent 202 can utilize a computer program that can be residentin the mote device 200, that executes on a processor of mote device 200and that constructs and/or stores mote-addressed sensing/control log204, and/or mote-addressed routing/spatial log 252 in the memory of motedevice 200. In some implementations, log creation agent 202 ispre-installed on mote device 200 prior to mote device 200 being added toa mote-appropriate network, while in other implementations log creationagent 202 crawls and/or is transmitted to mote device 200 from anotherlocation (e.g., a log creation agent at another mote or anothernetworked computer (not shown) to thereby replicate or clone itself, andtransmits that log clone to mote device 200). In yet otherimplementations, the log creation agent 202 can be installed at a proxy(not shown) for mote device 200. Such logs can be accessed, with certainembodiments of the servicing devices, to determine whether theindividual mote device(s) are achieving their goals as per the motenetwork.

The structure and operation of each mote device 200 or 11, as describedwith respect to FIGS. 1, 2, and/or 3, are intended to be illustrative innature and represents a number of illustrative embodiments of motedevice structure and operation. Mote device(s) continue to undergodevelopment, and it is to be understood that other mote structures andoperations (such as is described in the articles, publications, andresearch as described herein) are also intended to be within the scopeof the present disclosure as long as such mote structures and operationssatisfy the claim limitations of the present application, as interpretedbased on the present disclosure.

In certain embodiments of this disclosure, the systems and/or processestransfer their instructions in a piecewise fashion over time. In someapplications, motes can be considered as relatively low-power and/or lowbandwidth devices, and thus in some implementations the system(s) andprocess(es) described herein allow many minutes (e.g., hours, days, oreven weeks) for herein described agents and/or processes to migrate toand establish themselves at various motes. The same can be true fortransmission of information among motes in that in some implementationssuch transmission may be done over the course of hours, days, or evenweeks depending upon bandwidth, power, and/or other constraints. Inother implementations, the migrations and/or transmissions areaccomplished more rapidly, and in some cases may be accomplished asrapidly as possible.

III. EXAMPLES OF INTERACTION BETWEEN MOTE DEVICE(S) AND SERVICINGDEVICE(S)

In certain embodiments, a mechanism that can include the statusindicator portion can change some condition or position of the motedevice 11 that can be detected by the servicing device. Such adetectable change to the mote device 11 could be detected by manyembodiments of the servicing device such as a change in color of themote device when the mote device is indicating that it should beserviced. For example, a power-sensing servicing device can sense apower level of certain mote device(s). In certain embodiments, thestatus indicators can be formed as, or attached to, a portion or theentirety of an external surface of one or more mote device(s) 11.

There are a variety of techniques by which the mote device 11 canindicate to other devices (e.g., a servicing device) that the motedevice 11 can be, or is configured to be, serviced, identified to beserviced, and/or attended to. The particular shape or surfaceconfiguration of the mote device(s) 11 (and the associated antenna tothe mote device(s)) as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 are intended to beillustrative in nature, and not limiting in scope. Certain embodimentsof mote device(s) can be formed in a desired and/or suitable shape andconfiguration. The embodiment of the mote device 11, as described withrespect to FIG. 4, can be configured such that at least one of itssurfaces changes some status indicator as described herein to identifyto a servicing person or servicing device when it should be serviced. Inone embodiment of the mote device 11 as described with respect to FIG.4, the color, light emitted, reflectivity, or signal generated changeswhen some event associated with servicing occurs such as, for example,the power supply of the mote device drops below a prescribed powerlevel. Such change in the status indicator of the mote device can beused by a person or a mechanism to recognize those mote device(s) thatshould be serviced.

As such, causing the status indicators (that can, in certainembodiments, be configured as tags) to change color using some chemical,fluorescent, phosphorescent, mechanical, or other technique, caneffectively result in changing the outward appearance of certainembodiments of the mote device. One example of a mechanical change incolor on the mote device(s) may include, but is not limited to,physically “pumping” some liquid into a chamber of the mote device thatis visible from the outside of the mote device.

Another example of a status indicator that can be implemented utilizinga change in color may include painting or otherwise coloring twosurfaces of the mote device(s) 11 in two colors. As such, during normaloperation, one color of the mote that is typically facing upwards willbe colored or painted a first color. As particular mote device(s) areidentified as those to be serviced, those mote device(s) can bedisplaced such as being “flipped over” using, e.g., a displacementportion of the servicing devices, an identifying device, or even apositional actuator located within the mote device itself. After themote device(s) is displaced such as by being flipped over, the newlyexposed surface(s) can be of a different color, reflectivity, etc. andcan thereupon be identified by the servicing device and/or anindividual. As such, certain embodiments of mote device(s) couldvibrate, click, buzz, provide a voice signal, provide a signal of somefrequency that may or may not be audible by human ears but might be tothe servicing device or controller, provide a light signal, changecolor, change shape and/or position of the mote device(s) to beserviced, etc. Such change of an outward appearance of certainembodiments of the mote device can be detected by a human, oralternatively a mechanism that can sense color, vibration, reflectance,or the particular characteristic being identified by the servicingdevice or individual. In certain embodiments, image processing and/orfiltering techniques can be used to identify locations of motedevice(s), or the status indicator attached thereto, that have changedcolor. In certain embodiments, the servicing device can be configured toautomatically recognize those colors of the mote device(s) that indicatethat the mote device(s) should be serviced. For example, consider in oneembodiment, the mote device turns to a particular color when it's powerand/or energy level is low, and perhaps to another color whendata-storage or transfer becomes an issue.

As such, it may be beneficial for the servicing device to be capable ofrecognizing mote device(s) 11 having a particular color and thereuponmay indicate that the mote device should be serviced. In certainembodiments, a filtering device can be used by a servicing device tomonitor an area that mote device(s) are located for a particular colorthat would indicate that the mote device should be serviced (e.g.,collected, reconfigured, replaced, destroyed, discarded, etc. asdescribed herein). When that particular color is received by theservicing device, then the servicing device can identify that particularmote device to a person or mechanism that can service the mote device,or alternatively service the mote device itself. This scenariorepresents an illustration of one embodiment of the servicing device ormechanism that can be used to service at least one mote device(s), whileit is to be understood that other embodiments of servicing devices canalso be utilized that also rely upon the appearance, reflectivity,color, shape, etc. of one or more surfaces of the mote device(s).

A number of embodiments of status indicators can be utilized to changethe color of a surface of one or more mote device(s) 11, as describedwith respect to FIG. 4. Certain embodiments of status indicators caninclude, but are not limited to: a chemical status indicator or afluorescent status indicator, which can be utilized to change color of asurface upon a prescribed condition. The structure and operation of achemical status indicator and/or fluorescent status indicator aregenerally understood, and will not be described in further detailherein. Certain embodiments of mote device(s) can change color,reflectivity, shape, etc. from their natural background (e.g., green formote device(s) located in or on a grassy field, or gray or black formote device(s) located in or on a roadway) to an easily-detectable color(e.g., orange for mote device(s) in a field) to ease servicing by aperson or optical-based servicing device.

Other embodiments of the mote device 11 can be configured to emit lightof a recognizable color, brightness, blinking rate, etc. when it isdesired that the mote be serviced by, for example, the servicing device50. As such, the emitted light can be utilized (for example by a personor the servicing device 50) to identify the location or presence of oneor more mote device(s) based, at least in part, on the appearance of theat least one mote device(s). In one embodiment, a light emitting diode(e.g., LED) or display device that can be actuated based on a parametersensing, for example, that the mote device has relatively low-power. Assuch, the mote device 11 can be configured to emit a particular color ifit is desired that mote device, for example, be serviced by theservicing device based, at least in part, on the color of the motedevice. In certain embodiments, for example as described with respect toFIG. 5, the mote device 11 includes a light source 502, that can beconfigured to generate light of a desired color, blink at a desiredrate, or to provide another desired optical characteristic, etc. when itis desired to have the mote serviced or attended to. In certainembodiments, the light device 502 can include at least one lightemitting diode(s) which has been designed to provide a signal 510 thatcan, in this embodiment, include a detectable amount of light thatpreferably utilizes relatively little power. As such, the servicingdevice, a servicing person, or alternatively a user of the servicingdevice should be able to recognize and/or locate those mote device(s) 11that are to be serviced based on the signal 510 that includes light fromthe light source 502. As such, the light emitted from the light source502 can be selected to indicate one or more conditions of the motedevice 11. In certain embodiments, the light source 502 can be arelatively low-powered device, such that the mote device 11 will be ableto emit a light even under certain circumstances that the mote devicehas insufficient power to operate properly.

A variety of techniques may be utilized to approve the servicing orattending to of mote device(s) 11 that are of a particular color or areemitting light. For example, if a user is monitoring mote device(s)within an interior space such as a building, then it may be desired toturn out other lights within the room, building, outdoor area, etc.where the mote device is located to determine which ones of the motedevice(s) are generating light from the light source 502. Alternatively,light of a particular frequency may be generated from the light source,that is not a similar frequency to the light in the area around the motedevice 11. For example, the light source 502 can be configured to emitinfrared or ultraviolet light; and a suitable filter can thereupon beused by the servicing device to filter out light that does notcorrespond to that emitted by the light source 502. As such, the ambientlight of the region (that differs in frequency or color from the lightof the light source 502) does not hide the location of the light sourceand mote device, and thereupon the location(s) of the light source(s)and mote device(s) can be readily detected. In certain embodiments,light of a different frequency than provided by the light source 502 canbe filtered out to allow a user, or a detecting portion associated withthe servicing device, to determine whether one or more of the lightsources from the mote device(s) 11 are emitting light of that particularfrequency. Such filtering techniques can be utilized by a person orimaging portion of the servicing device to improve locating and/oridentifying such mote device(s) that should be serviced.

Some implementations shown/described herein include various separatearchitectural components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe separate architectural components are so described for sake ofclarity, and are not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate the herein-described architectural components, suchreporting entities, logs, and/or device entities, etc. arerepresentative of substantially any architectural components thatperform in a similar manner. For example, while some implementationsshow reporting entities obtaining information from logs created withdevice entity data, those skilled in the art will appreciate that suchimplementations are representative of reporting entities obtaining thedata directly from the device entities. As another example, while someimplementations show reporting entities obtaining information producedby device entities, those skilled in the art will appreciate that suchimplementations are representative of executing sensing of parameters,or some other operation, at the mote device 11 or 200. In certainembodiments, the mote device(s) 11 or 200 can extract and/or transmitsimilar information as that described in the relation to the reportingentities and/or device entities. For example, some multi-mote logcreation agent making a query of a database entity resident at the motedevice(s) within the mote network, where the database entity wouldperform in a fashion similar to that described in relation to reportingentities, logs, and/or device entities, etc. Thus, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the architectural components described hereinare representative of virtually any grouping of architectural componentsthat perform in a similar manner.

As described with respect to FIG. 6, certain embodiments of motedevice(s) 11 can provide a status indicator as described herein bygenerating a signal (optical, acoustic, vibration, or other) using theantenna 12 or other suitable portion of the mote device. In certainembodiments, the signal 510 can thereby act as a status indicator byindicating the mote device should be serviced by the servicing device 50for any of the reasons described in this disclosure. For example,perhaps the signal being generated by the mote device is reaching arelatively low energy and/or power state, and could be serviced to berecharged and/or replaced. In another embodiment, perhaps the memorystorage capabilities of the mote device is reaching its filled state.

This disclosure provides certain embodiments of the servicing device 50,as described with respect to the FIG. 1. FIGS. 7 and 8 show twoembodiments of servicing devices 50. Certain embodiments of theservicing device 50 are designed to service either those mote device(s)that are suitable to be serviced as determined by the servicing device(or a user thereof), or alternatively the mote device indicates to theservicing device that the mote device should be serviced. The embodimentof the servicing device 50 as described with respect to FIG. 7 isintended to be used by an individual, and identified to the individualidentities and/or locations of the mote device(s) 11 that are to becaptured. The embodiment of the servicing device 50 as described withrespect to FIG. 8 is intended to be programmed to automatically servicethose mote device(s) 11 that are to be serviced. Consider that oneembodiment of the servicing device 50, as described with respect to FIG.8, can contain a securing portion 802 and a transporting portion 804.The securing portion 802 can be configured to somehow retain, grab,hold, adhere to, or somehow otherwise secure the mote device duringtransport of the mote device. The transporting portion 804 can beconfigured to transport the mote device 11 to a desired location, suchas to a recharge location, to a repair/replacement base, to acomputer/controller 18 as described above to transfer at least some ofits data, or to a discard location. The particular configuration of thesecuring portion 802 and the transporting portion 804, as illustrated inand described with respect to FIG. 8, are intended to be illustrative innature and not limiting in scope. The mote device(s) 50, as describedwith respect to FIGS. 7 and 8, are intended be illustrative in nature,and not limiting in scope.

The embodiment of the servicing device 50 as described with respect toFIG. 9, represents one generalized embodiment of the servicing devicethat determines those mote device(s) 11 that are to be serviced. Theembodiment of servicing device 50, as described with respect to FIG. 9,can include, but is not limited to: a mote locating portion 504, a moteservicing status identifying portion 506, and mote servicing portion508.

Certain embodiments of the mote locating portion 504, as described withrespect to FIG. 9, can be configured to locate one or more motedevice(s) such as, but not limited to, providing the exact geographicposition of each mote device to be serviced as could be understood bythe servicing device(s) 50. In certain embodiments, the mote locatingportion can be utilized to indicate positions of those at least onemote(s) to be serviced. Other embodiments of the mote locating portion504 can be configured to provide a relative geographic position of eachmote device to be serviced with respect to the servicing device 50 in amanner the can be understood by the servicing device. As such, manyembodiments of the mote locating portion 504 can utilize positionalinformation, such as provided by global positioning systems (GPS, manyof which are commercially available), RNAV, very-high-frequencyomni-directional range (VOR), radio locating/ranging, or otherpositioning devices. In other embodiments, the mote locating portion 504can define locations of motes with respect to some other coordinateaxis. For example, a mote locating portion 504 that deals with motedevice(s) 11 located within an automobile engine or an interior of apower plant could rely upon some coordinate axis defined with respect tothat automobile engine or interior of the power plant. Additionally, amote locating portion 504 that services mote device(s) that are locatedwithin a room can establish coordinates with respect to that room. Assuch, the selection of a particular coordinate axis by which the motelocating portion 504 operates may depend largely upon the location ofthe mote device(s) themselves, and a user of the mote device(s) coulddetermine a convenient coordinates axis depending upon the location ofthe mote device(s) to be serviced. As such, certain embodiments ofstatus indicators can integrate positional information of the motedevice(s) to assist in locating the mote device(s). These examples ofstatus indicators including positional information sources are notintended to be limiting in scope.

Certain embodiments of the mote servicing status identifying portion 506can identify those mote device(s) 11 that are intended be serviced. Bycomparison, the mote servicing portion 508 can be configured to servicethose motes identified by the mote servicing status identifying portion506. In certain embodiments, similar to as described with respect toFIG. 7, the identification performed by the mote servicing statusidentifying portion 506 can be performed by an individual with theservicing device 50 (in one embodiment by following directions as tohave the servicing device locate each mote device to be serviced).Thereupon, as the user reaches each mote device to be serviced in order,the user can physically pick up each mote device. As such, in manyembodiments, the servicing devices 50 can be manually configured suchthat the servicing devices indicate the location of the mote device(s)to be serviced, and a user who is associated with the servicing devicemanually picks up those mote device(s).

In certain embodiments, similar to those described with respect to FIG.8, the operations of the servicing device, or a mote servicing portion,can be largely automated. Using such automation techniques,identification of the location of each mote be serviced (as provided bythe mote servicing status identifying portion 506), and can be input tothe mote servicing portion 508. As such, the mote servicing portion 508can rely upon a variety of automated techniques (e.g., such as noted tobe understood to those skilled in the robotics arts), to service thoseparticular mote device(s) 11 that are to be serviced. For example,certain embodiments of the mote servicing portion 508 of the servicingdevice 50 can include an automated or manual grasping mechanism, anautomated or manual shoveling mechanism, an automated or manual grabbingmechanism, an automated or manual holding mechanism, or some other typeof automated or manual mechanism by which the mote device can be held inposition by the servicing device 50. In certain embodiments, theservicing device can then transport the mote device to a desiredlocation. Certain embodiments of the mote servicing portion 508 of theservicing device 50 can utilize some type of transport mechanism, suchas, but not limited to: wheels, tracks, treads, steppers, skids, sleds,etc. or other further techniques by which the servicing device 50 can betransported across the type of area from which the particular motedevice 11 is being serviced.

Certain embodiments of the servicing device could be operationally“directed” at those mote device(s) 11 that could be serviced using, forexample: optical sensed color that could be output by the mote device(s)11 (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 4 or 5), positionalinformation and/or servicing information that could be provided by themote device(s), an audio, light, or other signal that could be output bythe mote device(s) and thereupon detected by the servicing device,and/or any other type of signal or indicator (e.g., a status indicator)that could indicate the mote device is ready to be serviced and/or whereto locate that mote device to be serviced. Other embodiments of theservicing device 50 could propel themselves (in a random or organizedfashion that can be automated or manual) around an area where motedevice(s) are located, until they come in contact with those motedevice(s) that are to be serviced.

There are a variety of techniques by which the servicing device 50, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1, can service one or more of the motedevice(s) 11. One embodiment of servicing device 50 can be associatedwith an individual, and can assist to indicate to the servicing deviceor servicing person a particular location of the mote device. In oneembodiment, for example, the servicing device 50 can indicate areference distance and a reference angle to any mote device, oralternatively a particular mote device. For example, a mote device 11 tobe serviced can be 20 feet away from the servicing device at an angle of120° (or any other suitable distance and/or angle or similar coordinatesystem). Certain embodiments of the servicing device 50 can utilizeranging techniques, similar to those techniques developed for suchpositioning applications such as radar and global positioning systems,many of which are commercially available and will not be furtherdescribed herein.

Certain embodiments of the servicing device 50 can then propel itself,or be propelled or carried by a user, to the servicing device, andservice the mote device using a suitable mechanism. Certain embodimentsof the servicing devices 50 could repair, reconfigure, repower, discard,or apply energy to recharge the mote device (perhaps with the assistanceof a person), and even perhaps return the mote device to its originallocation after performing its work at the location of the mote. Certainautomated embodiments of the servicing devices 50 could return one ormore serviced mote device(s) 11 to another location to work on orrepower the mote device(s). Certain embodiments of servicing devicescould return the repaired mote device(s) to the same location, oralternatively reconfigure the mote device to operate at a differentlocation, with a different configuration within the mote network, and/orwithin a different mote network. Alternatively, certain embodiments ofmote device(s) can be designed to configure themselves (automatically orotherwise) where they are located utilizing self-configuring techniques.These servicing techniques and scenarios by different embodiments of theservicing device 50 are intended to display the vast variety orscenarios by which mote device(s) can be serviced for a variety ofpurposes, and is not intended to be limiting in scope. As such, manyembodiments of the servicing device 50 (e.g., automated, to be used by aperson, and/or other configurations of servicing devices such asdescribed herein) can perform a variety of servicing techniques.

IV. EXAMPLES OF SIGNAL ENERGY TRANSFER TO MOTE DEVICE(S)

Certain embodiments of the mote device 11, as described with respect tothe FIGS. 1 to 3, can rely on power or energy level for a variety ofreasons including, but not limited to, extending useful device life forthe mote device(s), enhancing reliability of the mote device(s), etc.This disclosure provides a variety of techniques by which thepower/energy level of the mote device can be extended using energycontained within a signal 1005 provided by the servicing device 50, orsome other device. In certain embodiments, the signal 1005 can providefor querying, controlling, responding to, signaling, and/or a variety ofother operations of the mote device(s) 11 within the mote network. Thesignal 1005, however, contains some amount of energy that (perhaps whenconverted to a desired frequency) would be useful for the motedevice(s).

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of the servicing device 50, that isproviding a signal 1005 that can to be received by the mote device 11.As described in this disclosure, many embodiments of mote device(s) 11can include a power portion 17, which can in certain embodimentsinclude, for example, a battery such as a double-A battery, a powercell, etc. In certain embodiments, the power portion 17 can berechargeable. Increasing the charge of the rechargeable power portion 17can thereupon increase the energy level, an effective device life, andlongevity in certain embodiments of the mote device 11, especially whenthe energy level of the mote device 11 is low. As such, this disclosureprovides a mechanism by which energy contained within the applied signal1005 can be utilized to recharge the power portion 17, if the powerportion is rechargeable.

In certain embodiments of the mote device 11, the communication portion13 is to be configured to convert a frequency of the received signal1005. As such, even if the signal 1005 is not of a frequency (e.g., ofelectromagnetic radiation) that can be utilized by the power portion tocharge the under-charged power portion 17, the communication portion 13,(or an associated portion), can thereupon convert the frequency of theelectromagnetic radiation to a frequency that can be used to charge thepower portion 17. By increasing the charge of the mote device(s) 11, theeffective life of certain embodiments of mote device(s) can be extended.Under certain scenarios, the servicing device 50 can be scheduled toroutinely consider some, many, or all of the mote device(s) 11 in a motenetwork for servicing, collection, attending to, etc., and the energyfrom the signal 1005 can effectively recharge, to some degree, at leastsome of the mote device(s) that are configured to be recharged. As such,it is to be understood that this disclosure provides a number oftechniques by which signals 1005, as applied from the servicing device50, can be utilized to increase the energy or power level of anundercharged mote device 11. While FIG. 10 illustrates the servicingdevice 50 generating the signal 1005, it is to be understood that suchsignals 1005 can be provided by a wide variety of devices including, butnot limited to: the servicing device 50, the computer/controller 18,another mote device 11, or any other device that can be configured toproduce a signal (that can be converted to utilize the signal's energy).

It may be desired to utilize the signal 1005 to be produced by theservicing device 50, and the servicing device 50 can utilize the moteservicing status identifying portion 506 to determine a status of themote device 11. Particularly, as described with respect to FIG. 9,whether the mote device 11 is undercharged can be one status item of themote device 11 that can be determined by the mote servicing statusidentifying portion 506 of the servicing device 50. As such, theservicing device 50 can be provided with a number of options if it isdetermined that there is one or more undercharged mote device(s) 11. Inone embodiment, the servicing device 50 can generate the signal 1005,and even perhaps generate other signals that can be utilized by the motedevice 11, and convert the signal(s) to a frequency effective torecharge the power portions 17. Alternatively, the servicing device 50can service the mote device 11 to properly service, charge, configure,attend to, or replace the mote device. The technique(s) used by theservicing device 50 upon interaction with the one or more mote device(s)can be programmed in the servicing device, or alternatively can beselected by user input (e.g., via a remote link—not illustrated) to theservicing device 50. A variety of techniques and/or mechanisms (that caninclude, but may not be limited to, software, hardware, firmware,electro-mechanical, and/or mechanical aspects) can be utilized to allowindividuals to control the servicing operations of the servicing device.For example, in one embodiment, a user can interface with the controlleruser interface located directly on the servicing device. In otherembodiments, the user can communicate with the servicing deviceutilizing a distinct remote-control unit (not shown), which isconfigured to provide wireless control communications with the servicingdevice. In certain embodiments, the energy from other signal(s)transmitted by the servicing device 50, the computer/controller 18,and/or another mote device 11 can be utilized to recharge the powerportion 17.

In many embodiments, if the servicing device 50 is providing the signal1005 for the purpose of recharging the mote device 11, reposition themote device 11, attend to the mote device 11, or perform some otheroperation with respect to the mote device 11, then the mote device 11may be configured to understand that this is the purpose of the signal.As such, a variety of communication techniques can be utilized betweenthe servicing device 50 in the mote device 11 to set up the transfer ofenergy via the signal 1005. For example, the mote device 11 should beaware of the frequency of the signal 1005, so that the mote device 11can ensure that it is able to convert the electrical energy of thatsignal into a frequency that can be utilized to charge the underchargedrechargeable power portions 17.

While the FIG. 10 embodiment illustrates the signal 1005 that chargesthe power portion 17 of the mote device 11 as originating from theservicing device 50, the signal 1005 can be provided by a variety ofother devices such as a charging device. For example, in certainembodiments, the servicing device 50, a person using the servicingdevice, or a person acting alone can locate those mote device(s) 11 thatneed to be charged. Thereupon, the servicing device 50 (or a servicingperson) can position a signal-charging device (not shown) that emits acharging signal in sufficiently close proximity to the rechargeable motedevice for a sufficient duration to charge the mote device using thesignal 1005. Alternatively, the mote device can be returned to a remotelocation for charging either using traditional charging techniques orusing a signal-charging technique. Within this disclosure, the signal1005 can by configured as any type of electromagnetic radiation(including radio, electric, optical, infrared, ultraviolet) whose energycan be converted into a form which can at least partially charge thepower portion 17.

By periodically utilizing the servicing device 50 and/or charging deviceto charge the mote device(s) 11, the energy levels of the mote device(s)in a mote network can be serviced to ensure and monitor forsubstantially continual operation. As such, the reliability of operationof certain embodiments of mote device(s) and their networks can beensured. The servicing device 50 can thereby be configured to perform awide variety of operations with respect to the mote device 11, that caninclude, but are not limited to: servicing the mote device, identifyingthose mote device(s) that need servicing, and/or charging anundercharged rechargeable mote device 11.

V. EXAMPLES OF COMPUTERS/CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATED WITH MOTE DEVICE(S)

Mote device(s) 11 can be applied to a large variety of sensing,measuring, and/or controlling applications, including but not limitedto, sensing a variety of parameters as described with respect to FIGS. 1to 3. It is envisioned that the role of a single mote device 11 can bechanged, such as by reconfiguring the user interface, downloadingdifferent software, hardware, and/or firmware into the mote device, etc.Changing the role of the mote device 11 can provide different sensingapplications and/or actuating applications based at least in part onvarying the configuration or operation of software, hardware, orfirmware of a computer/controller 18 that can be configured to interfacewith the mote device 11. This portion describes certain embodiments ofthe computer/controller 18 that may be configured to allow suchfunctionality and alterability with respect to the mote device(s) 11,the computer/controller(s) 18, and/or the servicing device(s) 50. Assuch, the processor 605, the memory 607, the circuits 609, and/or theinput/output 611 are illustrated as components of the mote device(s) 11,the computer/controller(s) 18, and the servicing device(s) 50 since eachof these devices can be configured to perform processing operationsand/or sense parameters at least partially using the mote device(s) 11.It is to be understood that the components 605, 607, 609, and/or 611 canbe configured to perform similar or different task(s) in the mote device11, the computer/controller 18, and the servicing device 50.

Many embodiments of mote device(s) 11 utilize processing, timing,filtering and/or other techniques when performing a variety of sensingoperations. Such processing, timing, filtering, and/or other techniquescan be at least partially performed and/or controlled within eachindividual mote device(s) 11 by using the controller portion 19. In manyembodiments, the processing, timing, filtering, and/or other techniquescan be at least partially controlled, externally of the mote device(s)11, using the computer/controller 18. In many embodiments, thecontroller portion 19 integrated in certain embodiments of the motedevice 11 can interoperate with the computer/controller 18 using knownnetworking techniques. As such, depending upon the particular motedesign, application, configuration, etc., a certain amount of thecontrol of the operations of each mote device 11 can be provided eitherwithin the controller portion 19, or alternatively within thecomputer/controller 18.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the computer/controller 18 (which can beembodied as a computer, microprocessor, microcontroller,electro-mechanical controller, etc.) as can be integrated within certainembodiments of the mote device(s) 11 to assist in providing the sharingof at least portions of data and/or other information associated withthose mote device(s). In certain embodiments, the computer/controller 18can be referred to as a base station. Certain operations and/orstructures, as described with respect to the computer/controller 18which is distinct from the mote device 11; can also apply to thecontroller portion 19 that is integrated within the mote device and/orthe servicing device 50. As such, the particular location of software,hardware, and/or firmware that controls operation of the mote device(s)11 can be distributed across the mote network, at least to thoselocations including the mote device(s) 11, the servicing device 50,and/or the computer/controller 18. Certain sensing-related aspects suchas synchronization and/or designation of aspects (as described withinthis disclosure) can be performed by the computer/controller 18, thecontroller portion 19, and/or the servicing device 50. As such, indifferent embodiments, the mote device(s) can be operably coupled toeach other, the servicing device 50, and/or the computer/controller 18and much of the associated processing can be performed by any one ofthese devices, in a manner known by those skilled in thecomputer-networking art.

As described within this disclosure, multiple embodiments of the motedevice(s) 11 are able to transfer a variety of data and/or information,etc. to each other via the antennas 12. One embodiment of thecomputer/controller 18 (that therefore may also be included in thecontroller portion 19 and/or the servicing device 50) includes aprocessor 605 such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory 607, acircuit or a circuit portion 609, and an input output interface (I/O)611. In certain embodiments, the I/O 611 may include a bus (not shown).In certain embodiments, the processor 605 can have a more limitedcapacity than perhaps a CPU, such as would occur if thecomputer/controller 18 included a microprocessor or microcomputer.Different embodiments of the computer/controller 18 can be ageneral-purpose computer, a specific-purpose computer, a microprocessor,a microcontroller, a personal display assistant (PDA), and/or any otherknown suitable type of computer or controller that can be implemented inhardware, software, electromechanical devices, and/or firmware. Certainportions of the computer/controller 18 can be physically or operablyconfigurable in each mote device 11 such as described with respect toFIGS. 1 to 3. In certain embodiments of the mote device, the processor605 as described with respect to FIG. 1 performs the processing andarithmetic operations for the computer/controller 18. Thecomputer/controller 18 controls the signal processing, database queryingand response, computational, timing, data transfer, and other processesassociated with the mote device. In certain embodiments, one or moresimplified versions of the computer/controller 18, the controllerportion 19, and/or a similar controller in the servicing device 50 (notillustrated) can be provided with respect to FIG. 1, and could beconfigured to provide a transfer of data or other information and/ordata between multiple mote device(s), the computer/controller 18, and/orthe servicing device 50.

Certain embodiments of the memory 607 include random access memory (RAM)and read only memory (ROM) that together store the computer programs,operands, and other parameters that control the operation of the motedevice. In certain embodiments, the memory can include flash memory orother similar memory components. The memory 607 can be configurable tocontain the data or information obtained, retained, or captured by thatparticular mote device 11 (that may be configurable in differentembodiments as the peripheral mote device of the obtaining mote device)such as are used to sense or measure a variety of parameters. Certainembodiments of mote device(s) can also be configured to actuate avariety of operations, such as turn a light (e.g., light emitting diode)on or off or control a display, computer monitor, etc.

In certain embodiments, the bus (not illustrated) can be configurable toprovide for digital information transmissions between the processor 605,circuits 609, memory 607, and/or the I/O 611 as described with respectto FIG. 1. In this disclosure, the memory 607 can be configurable asRAM, ROM, flash memory, semiconductor-based memory, or any other type ofmemory that is configurable to store data or other informationpertaining to motes. The bus also connects I/O 611 to the portions ofthe mote device(s) that either receive digital information from, ortransmit digital information to, other devices (e.g., mote device(s) orother devices) of the mote network 10 or associated mote network.

Many embodiments of the antenna 12 can be configured as bothtransmitting and receiving devices. As such, each one of the motedevice(s) 11, the servicing device 50, and/or the computer/controller 18can be configured to transmit information to other devices, as well asto receive information from other devices. Each antenna 12 can beconfigured to provide effective communications to other devices, andtherefore can include, but are not limited to, the radio frequencysignals, wireless signals, optical signals, infrared signals, etc.

The memory 607 can provide one example of a memory storage portion thatcan, for example, store information or data relating to mote sensing,and/or computer instructions relating to device operations, etc. Incertain embodiments, the monitored value includes, but is not limitedto: a percentage of the memory 607, a certain amount of mote informationthat is stored in the memory 607, or at other locations associated withthe mote information.

The memory 607 can be configured to provide for overflow, primary,secondary, or additional ability for the memory 607 of certainembodiments of the mote device 11, the servicing device, and/or thecomputer/controller 18 (e.g. when the monitored value of data within thememory 607 exceeds a prescribed value). Other embodiments of the memory607 can be configurable as a mobile random access memory (RAM) device, aflash memory device, a semiconductor memory device, or any other memorydevice (that may or may not be distinct from the memory 607) that canstore data or other information within the memory 607.

In certain embodiments of the mote device 11, the particular elements ofthe computer/controller 18 (e.g., the processor 605, the memory 607, thecircuits 609, and/or the I/O 611) can provide a monitoring function tomonitor the amount of data or information therein. Such a monitoringfunction by the mote device can be compared to a prescribed limit, suchas whether the sensed information or data contained in the memory 607,the amount of data contained within the memory 607, or some othermeasure relating to the memory is approaching some level or value. Incertain embodiments, the memory 607 stores data or information relatingto the mote device. In certain embodiments the measure relating to thememory approaching some value may pertain to some sensed parameter, suchas may be associated with the mote operation.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 611 provides an interface to control thetransmissions of digital information between each of the components inthe computer/controller 18. The I/O 611 also provides an interfacebetween the components of the computer/controller 18 and differentportions of the mote device. The circuits 609 can include such otheruser interface devices as a display and/or a keyboard (which can bevaried, miniaturized, and/or be provided in a variety of graphical-baseduser interfaces for certain embodiments of mote device(s)).

VI. EXAMPLES OF MOTE DEVICE(S) INDICATING THEY SHOULD BE SERVICED

A number of embodiments or configurations of servicing devices 50 arenow described that can service one or more mote device(s) 11. Ingeneral, there may be a variety of reasons why certain mote device(s)should be serviced that include, but are not limited to, a) motedevice(s) are failing to signal that they are still working, b) motedevice(s) signaling that they are operating outside normal operationalparameters (e.g., not working), and/or c) mote device(s) indicating thatthey have been working properly (e.g., the mote device has serviced datacorrectly over some prescribed time), but there is some reason toservice the mote device (such as routine servicing, to collect data andreturn the mote device to service, or otherwise attend to the motedevice).

In certain embodiments, the mote device can interface with the servicingdevice to indicate that, for at least one of the reasons describedabove, the mote device is requesting attention and is ready to beserviced. As such, in many embodiments, the mote device 11 can (e.g., bytransmitting servicing attention requested signals), indicate to theservicing device that it is ready to be serviced.

Failing mote device(s) may signal to be serviced for a variety ofreasons using a variety of techniques. In one embodiment, a last knowlocation (using absolute geographic position or location with respect toanother mote device within the mote network) of the failing mote devicemay be transmitted based on information transmitted to (or inferred orcalculated by) other motes. In certain instances, a failing mote canbroadcast its particular failure (or reason for servicing) and itslocation to neighbors, with the neighbor mote device(s) then storing thereceived location. The mote device(s) can thereupon indicate (e.g.,using a status indicator such as a tag) that they can provideinformation to locate or provide the status of another mote device(s),and can therefore act as a referral device by utilizing a “referral”status indicator. Other mote device(s) or other devices that aresearching to service the failed mote device can obtain the last knownlocation from the referral device in an effort to locate the failed motedevice.

Flowcharts that can be associated with the mote device(s) are alsodescribed. Within the disclosure, flowcharts of the type described inthis disclosure can apply to method steps as performed by a computer orcontroller. The flowcharts can also apply to computer/controller 18 thatinterfaces with the mote device(s) 11. In certain embodiments, thecomputer/controller 18 (that includes, e.g., a general-purpose computeror specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software,firmware, electro-mechanical devices, and/or hardware), can perform theprocess or technique described in the flowchart.

FIG. 11 shows one embodiment of a mote device 11, as described withinthis disclosure; certain embodiments of which can store parametricinformation sensed by the mote device(s), and/or computer instructions,commands, etc. This disclosure thereby provides a mechanism including atleast one mote device operable to at least partially determine that itis operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced (e.g., operating improperly), and also including the at leastone mote device operable to indicate it should be serviced at leastpartially in response to the at least one mote device operable to atleast partially determine that it is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced. In certain embodiments,the at least one mote device(s) 11 should be serviced for a variety ofreasons that include that it might not contain sufficient power, and assuch is operating outside normal operational parameters. The power tothe mote device(s), as described in this disclosure, can be provided bybatteries, power cells, and/or other power-related devices. There can bea variety of other reasons, as described in the disclosure, about whythe at least one mote device can be considered as operating outsidenormal operational parameter(s). In certain embodiments, once those motedevice(s) indicate that they are operating outside the normaloperational parameter(s) to at least one servicing device or servicingperson, then the servicing device or person can take an appropriateaction to service the mote device(s). With certain mote networks but notothers, one or more embodiments of servicing devices or persons canthereupon service the at least one mote device as described in thisdisclosure. For example, if the mote device is configured as describedwith respect to FIGS. 1-3, and the servicing device is configured asdescribed with respect to FIG. 7, then the user of the mote device willbe able to indicate if they should be serviced. The respective locationsof the mote device(s) could thereupon be determined based uponinformation provided by the mote device. Servicing the mote device couldbe determined at a variety of locations including: the mote device, atleast one other mote device, at the servicing device, and/or by a personacting to service the mote device(s), etc. By comparison, if theservicing device 50 is configured to automatically service the motedevice(s) similar to as described with respect to FIG. 8, then uponidentification of the mote device(s) to service, the servicing devicewill automatically service those mote device(s) using robotic or otherautomated techniques.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of a processing and/or sharingtechnique 2000 is described with respect to FIGS. 12 a to 12 e andincludes, but is not limited to, operation 2002 and 2004 as well asoptional operations 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and/or 2016. Operation2002 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 2020, 2022,2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032, 2034, 2036, and/or 2038.Operation 2004 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations2050, 2052, 2054, 2056, 2058, 2060, 2062, 2064, 2066, 2068, 2070, and/or2072. The high-level flowchart of FIGS. 12 a to 12 e should beconsidered in combination with the mote device 11, as described withrespect to FIG. 11. One embodiment of operation 2002 can include, but isnot limited to, determining that at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be serviced. Forexample, determining the mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters in some fashion that could be remedied byservicing the mote device (such as, but not limited to): determining alow-power status of the mote device or associated battery, determining amote device memory storage full or near full status, determining atleast one portion of the mote device that is broken and/or operatingimproperly, etc. In different embodiments, the determining that the atleast one mote device is operating outside normal operational parameterscould occur in the past, in the present, and/or potentially as aprediction in the future as a trend. One embodiment of operation 2004can include, but is not limited to, indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced at least partially in response to thedetermining that the at least one mote device is operating outsidenormal operational parameters and should be serviced. For example, themote device indicating (e.g., to itself, another mote device, and/oranother device such as a computer/controller) that the mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be serviced.One embodiment of the determining that at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be servicedof operation 2002 can include operation 2020, that can include, but isnot limited to, determining at least partially using the at least onemote device that is operationally located within a mote network is notmeeting a goal of the at least one mote device with respect to the motenetwork and should be serviced. For example, determining that the atleast one mote device is not meeting at least one goal as determinedwith respect to the mote network, such as but not limited to:determining that a certain number of mote device(s) within the motenetworks that are not operating properly; determining that a certaininteraction between the different mote device(s) within the mote networkis not occurring as desired; and/or determining that certain data is notbeing processed and/or stored in at least one mote device and/orcomputer/controller as desired. One embodiment of the determining thatat least one mote device is operating outside normal operationalparameters and should be serviced of operation 2002 can includeoperation 2022, that can include, but is not limited to, determiningthat the at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be reconfigured. For example, datacontained within the at least one mote device, components associatedwith the at least one mote device, and/or other mote device(s) 11 thatare associated with the at least one mote device could be serviced suchas being reconfigured either in situ or after returning the at least onemote device to a remote location. One embodiment of the determining thatat least one mote device is operating outside normal operationalparameters and should be serviced of operation 2002 can includeoperation 2023, that can include, but is not limited to, determiningthat the at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be discarded. For example, datacontained within the at least one mote device, components associatedwith the at least one mote device, and/or other mote device(s) 11 thatare associated with the at least one mote device could be serviced suchas being discarded. One embodiment of the determining that at least onemote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be serviced of operation 2002 can include operation 2024, thatcan include, but is not limited to, determining that the at least onemote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be collected. For example, the at least one mote device iscollected (e.g., by the servicing device or by a servicing person asdescribed herein), and is either serviced in situ or after displacingthe at least one mote device to a remote location. One embodiment of thedetermining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced of operation 2002 caninclude operation 2025, that can include, but is not limited to,determining that the at least one mote device is operating outsidenormal operational parameters and should be replaced. For example, datacontained within the at least one mote device, components associatedwith the at least one mote device, and/or other mote device(s) 11 thatare associated with the at least one mote device could be serviced suchas being replaced. One embodiment of the determining that at least onemote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be serviced of operation 2002 can include operation 2026, thatcan include, but is not limited to, determining that the at least onemote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be repaired in situ. For example, determining that the at leastone mote device should be repaired in situ, such as by the servicingdevice and/or by a person servicing the at least one mote device and/ormote network. One embodiment of the determining that at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced of operation 2002 can include operation 2028, that can include,but is not limited to, determining that the at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be recharged.For example, determining that a rechargeable embodiment of the at leastone mote device (or a rechargeable battery located therein) hasinsufficient power and/or energy, and should be recharged. Oneembodiment of the determining that at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be serviced ofoperation 2002 can include operation 2030, that can include, but is notlimited to, determining that the at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be operationallytransferred from a first mote network to a second mote network. Forexample, determining that the at least one mote device should beoperationally transferred from the first mote network to the second motenetwork (e.g., the at least one mote device should be reconfigured toprovide suitable operation for the at least one mote device in thesecond mote network). One embodiment of the determining that at leastone mote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be serviced of operation 2002 can include operation 2032, thatcan include, but is not limited to, determining that the at least onemote device does not have access to a sufficient power to operateproperly and should be serviced. For example, determining that the atleast one mote device has insufficient power to operate properly. Oneembodiment of the determining that at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be serviced ofoperation 2002 can include operation 2034, that can include, but is notlimited to, determining that a battery that provides power to the atleast one mote device does not provide a sufficient power to the atleast one mote device for the at least one mote device to operateproperly, and should be serviced. For example, determining that abattery of the at least one mote device is operating outside the normaloperational parameters by providing insufficient power to the at leastone mote device for the latter to operate properly. One embodiment ofthe determining that at least one mote device is operating outsidenormal operational parameters and should be serviced of operation 2002can include operation 2036, that can include, but is not limited to,determining that the at least one mote device does not have adequatedata storage capabilities to operate properly, and should be serviced.For example, determining that the at least one mote device is operatingoutside the normal operational parameters by having insufficient datastorage capabilities (e.g., its memory is filled). One embodiment of thedetermining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced of operation 2002 caninclude operation 2038, that can include, but is not limited to,determining that a computation time of the at least one mote deviceexceeds a prescribed duration, and should be serviced. For example,determining that the computation time of the at least one mote device isexcessive, such as determined by the at least one mote device utilizingexcessive time to perform at least one process. One embodiment of theindicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced of operation2004 can include operation 2050, that can include but is not limited to,indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced at leastpartially using a status indicator operationally associated with the atleast one mote device. For example, the status indicator indicates theat least one mote device is to be serviced. In different embodiments,the status indicator can include, but is not limited to: the at leastone mote device changing color, changing reflectivity, emitting light,emitting a sound signal, vibrating, changing shape, changing feel uponcontact, etc. as described within this disclosure. One embodiment of theindicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced of operation2004 can include operation 2052, that can include but is not limited to,indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced at leastpartially using a shape of the at least one mote device. For example,the at least one mote device changes shape to indicate the mote deviceshould be serviced. One embodiment of the indicating the at least onemote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can include operation2054, that can include but is not limited to, indicating the at leastone mote device is to be serviced at least partially using a position ofthe at least one mote device. For example, the at least one mote devicechanges position (e.g., the mote device jackknifes to an open position,or flips over displaying a different color or reflectivity) to indicateit should be serviced. One embodiment of the indicating the at least onemote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can include operation2056, that can include but is not limited to, indicating the at leastone mote device is to be serviced at least partially using a change inconformation of the at least one mote device. For example, the at leastone mote device changes its conformation, and thereby may be located ata different height above the ground, a road, or another surface toindicate that the at least one mote device should be serviced. Oneembodiment of the indicating the at least one mote device is to beserviced of operation 2004 can include operation 2058, that can includebut is not limited to, indicating the at least one mote device is to beserviced at least partially using a change in color of the at least onemote device. For example, the at least one mote device changes color(e.g., to a highly-visible color depending upon its location) toindicate that it should be serviced. Such changing of color can beprovided, for example, by the use of tags that are configured to changecolor. One embodiment of the indicating the at least one mote device isto be serviced of operation 2004 can include operation 2060, that caninclude but is not limited to, indicating the at least one mote deviceis to be serviced at least partially using a light signal of the atleast one mote device. For example, the at least one mote device emitsthe light signal, such as by using a light-emitting device (e.g., lightemitting diode) included in the at least one mote device. One embodimentof the indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced ofoperation 2004 can include operation 2062, that can include but is notlimited to, indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced atleast partially using an auditory signal of the at least one motedevice. For example, a sound-producing device located in, and actuatableby, the at least one mote device produces a sound to indicate that itshould be collected. One embodiment of the indicating the at least onemote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can include operation2064, that can include but is not limited to, indicating the at leastone mote device is to be serviced at least partially using a vibrationof the at least one mote device. For example, a vibratory device (notshown) that is located in the at least one mote device vibrates toindicate that it should be serviced. Within this disclosure, the term“vibrating” is intended to be broad to include such actions as chirping,buzzing, screeching, humming, etc. One embodiment of the indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can includeoperation 2066, that can include but is not limited to, indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced using at least one chemicaltag or at least one fluorescent tag. For example, a chemical orfluorescent tag is actuated by the at least one mote device to indicatethe latter should be serviced. One embodiment of the indicating the atleast one mote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can includeoperation 2068, that can include but is not limited to, indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced to at least one other motedevice. For example, indicating to at least one other mote device thatthe at least one mote device should be serviced. One embodiment of theindicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced of operation2004 can include operation 2070, that can include but is not limited to,indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced to a servicingdevice. For example, indicating to a servicing device that the at leastone mote device should be serviced. One embodiment of the indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced of operation 2004 can includeoperation 2072, that can include but is not limited to, indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced to a controller device. Forexample, indicating to a controller (such as the controller/computer asdescribed in this disclosure) that the at least one mote device shouldbe serviced. One embodiment of operation 2006 can include, but is notlimited to, sensing at least one parameter using the at least one motedevice. For example, sensing a parameter such as, but not limited to,temperature, light level, sound level, position, velocity, etc. usingthe at least one mote device. One embodiment of operation 2008 caninclude, but is not limited to, actuating at least a portion of at leastone other device using the at least one mote device. For example,actuating at least a portion of the device (e.g., a mote-controlleddevice) using the at least one mote device. One embodiment of operation2010 can include, but is not limited to, displaying an image at leastpartially using the at least one mote device. For example, displaying atleast a portion of an image (e.g., by actuating picture-elements,pixels, or light sources) using the at least one mote device. Oneembodiment of operation 2012 can include, but is not limited to,identifying a sensed condition of the at least one mote device. Forexample, identifying the sensed condition of the at least one motedevice such as data storage, at least one parameter, etc. One embodimentof operation 2014 can include, but is not limited to, identifying asensed error condition of the at least one mote device. For example,sensing an indication of an error (e.g., of a mote device operation) bythe at least one mote device. One embodiment of operation 2016 caninclude, but is not limited to, identifying a sensed diagnostic testfailure of the at least one mote device. For example, sensing adiagnostic test failure such as to determine that the at least one motedevice is operating improperly, as described within this disclosure. Theorder of the operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described withrespect to FIGS. 12 a to 12 e are intended to be illustrative in nature,and not limited in scope.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of a mote device 11, as described withinthis disclosure; certain embodiments of which can store parametricinformation sensed by the mote device(s), and/or computer instructions,commands, etc. This disclosure thereby provides a mechanism includingthe at least one mote device operable to at least partially determinethat it should undergo routine servicing (e.g., operating improperly),and including the at least one mote device operable to indicate the atleast one mote device should be serviced at least partially in responseto the at least one mote device operable to at least partially determinethat it should undergo routine servicing. In certain embodiments, the atleast one mote device(s) 11 should undergo routine servicing for avariety of reasons that include that it might not contain sufficientpower and should be recharged, and/or that the at least one mote devicehas been operating for a sufficient duration to be routinely serviced.In certain embodiments, once those mote device(s) that are to beserviced indicate this to at least one servicing device or servicingperson; with certain mote networks but not others, one or moreembodiments of servicing devices or persons can thereupon service the atleast one mote device as described in this disclosure. For example, ifthe mote device is configured as described with respect to FIGS. 1-3,and the servicing device is configured as described with respect to FIG.7, then the user of the servicing device could be able to indicate thosemote device(s) that should be serviced. The respective locations of themote device(s) could thereupon be determined based upon informationprovided by the mote device. The fact that the mote device should beserviced could be determined at the mote device, at least one other motedevice, at the servicing device, and/or by a person acting to servicethe mote device(s). By comparison, if the servicing device 50 isconfigured to automatically service the mote device(s) similar to asdescribed with respect to FIG. 8, then upon identification of the motedevice(s) to service, the servicing device could automatically servicethose mote device(s) using robotic or other automated techniques.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of a processing and/or sharingtechnique 2400 is described with respect to FIGS. 14 a to 14 c andincludes, but is not limited to, operation 2402 and 2404 as well asoptional operations 2406, 2408, 2410, 2412, 2414, 2416, 2418, and/or2419. Operation 2402 can include, but is not limited to, optionaloperation 2420. Operation 2404 can include, but is not limited to,optional operations 2422, 2426, 2428, 2430, 2432, 2434, 2436, 2438,2440, 2444, 2446, 2448, 2450, 2452, 2454, and/or 2456. The high-levelflowchart of FIGS. 14 a to 14 c should be considered in combination withthe mote device 11, as described with respect to FIG. 13. One embodimentof operation 2402 can include, but is not limited to, determining thatat least one mote device should undergo routine servicing. For example,determining that the at least one mote device has been operatingproperly. One embodiment of operation 2404 can include, but is notlimited to, configuring the at least one mote device to indicate the atleast one mote device should undergo the routine servicing. For example,the at least one mote device indicates that it should undergo routineservicing. One embodiment of the determining that at least one motedevice should undergo routine servicing of operation 2402 can includeoperation 2420, that can include, but is not limited to, determining atleast partially using the at least one mote device that is at leastpartially located within a mote network should undergo the routineservicing to meet a goal of the at least one mote device with respect tothe mote network. For example, the at least one mote device determinesthat is should undergo routine servicing to meet the goal. Oneembodiment of the configuring the at least one mote device to indicatethe at least one mote device should undergo the routine servicing ofoperation 2404 can include operation 2422, that can include, but is notlimited to, configuring the at least one mote device that can beoperable to indicate the at least one mote device is undergoing theroutine servicing performed at least partially by the at least one motedevice. For example, the at least one mote device indicates that itshould undergo routine servicing as performed at least partially byitself. One embodiment of the configuring the at least one mote deviceto indicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing of operation 2404 can include operation 2426, that caninclude, but is not limited to, configuring the at least one mote devicethat can be operable to indicate the at least one mote device shouldundergo the routine servicing performed at least partially by at leastone servicing device. For example, the at least one mote deviceindicates that it should undergo routine servicing as performed at leastpartially by the at least one servicing device. One embodiment of theconfiguring the at least one mote device to indicate the at least onemote device should undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 caninclude operation 2428, that can include, but is not limited to,configuring the at least one mote device that can be operable toindicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing performed at least partially by at least one controller. Forexample, the at least one mote device indicates that it should undergoroutine servicing as performed at least partially by at least onecontroller. One embodiment of the configuring the at least one motedevice to indicate the at least one mote device should undergo theroutine servicing of operation 2404 can include operation 2430, that caninclude, but is not limited to, configuring the at least one mote devicethat can be operable to indicate the at least one mote device is to becollected to undergo the routine servicing. For example, the at leastone mote device indicating such routine servicing as it should becollected, repaired, recharged, etc. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2432, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring theat least one mote device that can be operable to indicate the at leastone mote device is to be repaired in situ to undergo the routineservicing. For example, the at least one mote device indicating that itshould be repaired. One embodiment of the configuring the at least onemote device to indicate the at least one mote device should undergo theroutine servicing of operation 2404 can include operation 2434, that caninclude, but is not limited to, configuring the at least one mote devicethat can be operable to indicate the at least one mote device is to berecharged to undergo the routine servicing. For example, the least onemote device indicating that it should be recharged. One embodiment ofthe configuring the at least one mote device to indicate the at leastone mote device should undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404can include operation 2436, that can include, but is not limited to,configuring the at least one mote device that can be operable toindicate the at least one mote device is to be transferred from a firstmote network to a second mote network to undergo the routine servicing.For example, the least one mote device indicating that it should betransferred from the first mote network to the second mote network. Oneembodiment of the configuring the at least one mote device to indicatethe at least one mote device should undergo the routine servicing ofoperation 2404 can include operation 2438, that can include, but is notlimited to, configuring at least one status indicator of the at leastone mote device that can be operable to indicate the at least one motedevice to undergo the routine servicing. For example, configuring the atleast one status indicator to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2440, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring atleast one shape of the at least one mote device that can be operable toindicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing. For example, configuring the at least one shape of the atleast one mote device to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2444, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring atleast one position of the at least one mote device that can be operableto indicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing. For example, configuring the at least one position of the atleast one mote device to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2446, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring atleast one change in conformation of the at least one mote device thatcan be operable to indicate the at least one mote device should undergothe routine servicing. For example, configuring the at least one changein conformation of the at least one mote device to indicate that the atleast one mote device should undergo the routine servicing. Oneembodiment of the configuring the at least one mote device to indicatethe at least one mote device should undergo the routine servicing ofoperation 2404 can include operation 2448, that can include, but is notlimited to, configuring at least one change in color of the at least onemote device that can be operable to indicate the at least one motedevice should undergo the routine servicing. For example, configuringthe at least one change in color of the at least one mote device toindicate that the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing. One embodiment of the configuring the at least one motedevice to indicate the at least one mote device should undergo theroutine servicing of operation 2404 can include operation 2450, that caninclude, but is not limited to, configuring at least one light signal ofthe at least one mote device that can be operable to indicate the atleast one mote device should undergo the routine servicing. For example,configuring the at least one light signal of the at least one motedevice to indicate that the at least one mote device should undergo theroutine servicing. One embodiment of the configuring the at least onemote device to indicate the at least one mote device should undergo theroutine servicing of operation 2404 can include operation 2452, that caninclude, but is not limited to, configuring at least one auditory signalof the at least one mote device that can be operable to indicate the atleast one mote device should undergo the routine servicing. For example,configuring the at least auditory signal that can be produced by the atleast one mote device to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2454, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring avibration of the at least one mote device that can be operable toindicate the at least one mote device should undergo the routineservicing. For example, configuring the at least one vibration of the atleast one mote device to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of the configuringthe at least one mote device to indicate the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing of operation 2404 can includeoperation 2456, that can include, but is not limited to, configuring atleast one chemical tag or at least one fluorescent tag of the at leastone mote device that can be operable to indicate the at least one motedevice should undergo the routine servicing. For example, configuringthe at least one chemical tag or at least one fluorescent tag of the atleast one mote device to indicate that the at least one mote deviceshould undergo the routine servicing. One embodiment of optionaloperation 2406 can include, but is not limited to, determining that theat least one mote device does not have access to a sufficient power. Forexample determining at the at least one mote device, an other motedevice, or another device, that the at least one mote device does nothave access to sufficient power. One embodiment of optional operation2408 can include, but is not limited to, determining that a battery ofthe at least one mote device does not provide a sufficient power to theat least one mote device. For example determining at the at least onemote device, an other mote device, or another device, that a battery ofthe at least one mote device does not provide sufficient power. Oneembodiment of optional operation 2410 can include, but is not limitedto, determining that the at least one mote device does not have adequatedata storage capabilities to operate properly. For example determiningat the at least one mote device, another mote device, or another device,that the at least one mote device does not have adequate data storagecapabilities. One embodiment of optional operation 2412 can include, butis not limited to, determining that a computation time of the at leastone mote device exceeds a prescribed duration. For example determiningat the at least one mote device, another mote device, or another device,that the computation time of the at least one mote device exceeds theprescribed duration. One embodiment of optional operation 2414 caninclude, but is not limited to, sensing at least one parameter using theat least one mote device. For example, the at least one mote devicesenses the at least one parameter. One embodiment of optional operation2416 can include, but is not limited to, actuating at least a portion ofat least one other device using the at least one mote device. Forexample, the at least one mote device actuates the at least one otherdevice. One embodiment of optional operation 2418 can include, but isnot limited to, displaying at least a portion of an image at leastpartially using the at least one mote device. For example, the at leastone mote device displays at least the portion of the image. Oneembodiment of optional operation 2419 can include, but is not limitedto, identifying a sensed condition of the at least one mote device. Forexample, the mote device identifies the sensed condition. The order ofthe operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect toFIGS. 14 a to 14 c are intended to be illustrative in nature, and notlimited in scope.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of a processing and/or sharingtechnique 2500 is described with respect to FIG. 15 and includes, but isnot limited to, operations 2502 and 2504. The high-level flowchart ofFIG. 15 should be considered in combination with the mote device 11, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 13. One embodiment of operation 2502 caninclude, but is not limited to, a mote means for determining that it isoperating properly. For example, the mote device determines that it isoperating properly based on, e.g., the mote device storing and/ortransferring data or other information adequately. One embodiment ofoperation 2504 can include, but is not limited to, the mote means forindicating it is to undergo routine servicing even though it hasdetermined that it is operating properly. For example, the mote deviceindicates that it should undergo routine servicing, with such servicingtechniques being described in this disclosure. The order of theoperations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect to FIG.15 are intended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited in scope.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of a processing and/or sharingtechnique 2600 is described with respect to FIG. 16 and includes, but isnot limited to, operations 2602 and 2604. The high-level flowchart ofFIG. 16 should be considered in combination with the mote device 11, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 11. One embodiment of operation 2602 caninclude, but is not limited to, a mote means for determining that it isoperating outside normal operational parameters. For example, the motedevice, as described in this disclosure, indicates that it is operatingoutside of normal operational parameters as described in thisdisclosure. One embodiment of operation 2604 can include, but is notlimited to, the mote means for indicating it is to be serviced based, atleast in part, on it determining that it is operating outside normaloperational parameters. For example, the mote device as described inthis disclosure indicating that it is to be serviced (e.g., collected,repaired, recharged, etc. such as described in this disclosure). Theorder of the operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described withrespect to FIG. 16 are intended to be illustrative in nature, and notlimited in scope.

Another embodiment of the at least one mote device is described withrespect to FIG. 17. A displacing mechanism 2700 is configurable todisplace the at least one mote device to indicate the at least one motedevice is to undergo servicing. In certain embodiments, the displacingmechanism 2700 can include a flipping mechanism that is configurable toflip the at least one mote device. In certain embodiments, thedisplacing mechanism 2700 can be at least partially located in the atleast one mote device. For example, the displacing mechanism can belocated in the at least one mote device to flip or otherwise displacethe at least one mote device. In other embodiments, the displacingmechanism 2700 can be at least partially located in the servicingdevice. For example, the displacing mechanism can be located in theservicing device to flip or otherwise displace the at least one motedevice.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electro-mechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configurable to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

VII. CONCLUSION

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of servicing techniquesfor one or more mote device(s) that can be integrated within motenetworks. Each mote device can allow sensed data or information that islocated at the one mote device to be transferred to another mote deviceor another device. The embodiments of the mote device(s) as describedwith respect to this disclosure are intended to be illustrative innature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle can vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly a hardwareand/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for mainly a software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to theother in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon thecontext in which the vehicle can be deployed and the specific concerns(e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any ofwhich may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe mote device(s) and/or processes via the use of block diagrams,flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it willbe understood by those within the art that each function and/oroperation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Inone embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors(DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the artwill recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entireties.

The herein described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected”, “operably linked”, or “operably coupled”, to eachother to achieve the desired functionality, and any two componentscapable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operablycouplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specificexamples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physicallymateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wireles slyinteractable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logicallyinteracting and/or logically interactable components.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general,that the terms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and theappended claims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appendedclaims), are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”;etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”,and “at least one” located prior to one or more items are intended toapply inclusively to either one or a plurality of those items.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems thatcould have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-describedspecific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

Within this disclosure, elements that perform similar functions in asimilar way in different embodiments may be provided with the same orsimilar numerical reference characters in the figures.

1. A method, comprising: determining that at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be serviced;and indicating, using a shape of the at least one mote device, that theat least one mote device is to be serviced at least partially inresponse to the determining that the at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be serviced.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced comprises: determining at least partially using the at leastone mote device that is operationally located within a mote network isnot meeting a goal of the at least one mote device with respect to themote network and should be serviced.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe determining that at least one mote device is operating outsidenormal operational parameters and should be serviced comprises:determining that the at least one mote device is operating outsidenormal operational parameters and should be reconfigured.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the determining that at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be servicedcomprises: determining that the at least one mote device is operatingoutside normal operational parameters and should be discarded.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the determining that at least one mote deviceis operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced comprises: determining that the at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be collected.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced comprises: determining that the at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be replaced.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should beserviced comprises: determining that the at least one mote device isoperating outside normal operational parameters and should be repairedin situ.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that at leastone mote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be serviced comprises: determining that the at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should berecharged.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that atleast one mote device is operating outside normal operational parametersand should be serviced comprises: determining that the at least one motedevice is operating outside normal operational parameters and should beoperationally transferred from a first mote network to a second motenetwork.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that atleast one mote device is operating outside normal operational parametersand should be serviced comprises: determining that the at least one motedevice does not have access to a sufficient power to operate properlyand should be serviced.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced comprises: determiningthat a battery that provides power to the at least one mote device doesnot provide a sufficient power to the at least one mote device for theat least one mote device to operate properly, and should be serviced.12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that at least onemote device is operating outside normal operational parameters andshould be serviced comprises: determining that the at least one motedevice does not have adequate data storage capabilities to operateproperly, and should be serviced.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced comprises: determiningthat a computation time of the at least one mote device exceeds aprescribed duration, and should be serviced.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein the indicating the at least one mote device is to be servicedcomprises: indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced atleast partially using a status indicator operationally associated withthe at least one mote device.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein theindicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced comprises:indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced at leastpartially using a shape of the at least one mote device.
 16. The methodof claim 1, wherein the indicating the at least one mote device is to beserviced comprises: indicating the at least one mote device is to beserviced at least partially using a position of the at least one motedevice.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating the at leastone mote device is to be serviced comprises: indicating the at least onemote device is to be serviced at least partially using a change inconformation of the at least one mote device.
 18. The method of claim 1,wherein the indicating the at least one mote device is to be servicedcomprises: indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced atleast partially using a change in color of the at least one mote device.19. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced comprises: indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced at least partially using a light signal of theat least one mote device.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein theindicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced comprises:indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced at leastpartially using an auditory signal of the at least one mote device. 21.The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced comprises: indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced at least partially using a vibration of the atleast one mote device.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicatingthe at least one mote device is to be serviced comprises: indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced using at least one chemicaltag or at least one fluorescent tag.
 23. The method of claim 1, whereinthe indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced comprises:indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced to at leastone other mote device.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicatingthe at least one mote device is to be serviced comprises: indicating theat least one mote device is to be serviced to a servicing device. 25.The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced comprises: indicating the at least one motedevice is to be serviced to a controller device.
 26. The method of claim1, further comprising: sensing at least one parameter using the at leastone mote device.
 27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:actuating at least a portion of at least one other device using the atleast one mote device.
 28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying an image at least partially using the at least one motedevice.
 29. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying asensed condition of the at least one mote device.
 30. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: identifying a sensed error condition of theat least one mote device.
 31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:identifying a sensed diagnostic test failure of the at least one motedevice. 32-71. (canceled)
 72. A method, comprising: determining that atleast one mote device is operating outside normal operational parametersand should be serviced; and at least partially in response to thedetermining, indicating the at least one mote device is to be serviced,including the at least one mote device at least partially displacingitself.
 73. One or more non-transitory media bearing device-readableinstructions that, when executed, perform a process comprising:determining that at least one mote device is operating outside normaloperational parameters and should be serviced; and indicating, using ashape of the at least one mote device, that the at least one mote deviceis to be serviced at least partially in response to the determining thatthe at least one mote device is operating outside normal operationalparameters and should be serviced.